;■ 


"N'Vf  Rsrrv  of  n.c.  at  chapel  hill 


00022085431 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


From  the   Library  of 


Elizabeth  Morton  Johnston 
Patterson 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  North  Carolina  at  Chapel  Hill 


http://www.archive.org/details/whiteducklingothdole 


THE  WHITE 
DUCKLING 


> 

o 


Q 


THE 

WHITE 

DUCKLING 

AND  OTHER 
STORIES 


TRANSLATED  BY 

NATHAN 
HASKELL 
*  DOLE  * 


NEW  YORK 
THOMAS  Y.  CROWELL  CO. 

PUBLISHERS 


tf 


Copyright,  1907 
By  Thomas  Y.  Crowell  &  Co. 

Copyright,  1913 
By  Thomas  Y.  Crowell  Co. 


ELEVENTH  PRINTING 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America 


754137  C Ik 0        3UIT&H 


CONTENTS 

Page 

The  White  Duckling .  1 

The  Little  Sister  and  Little  Brother     .  9 

The  Bright-Hawk's  Feather  ......  21 

Ivan  and  the  Gray  Wolf 45 

Yasilisa  the  Beauty .    .  71 

Marya  Morevna 91 

The  Frog-Queen 113 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

From  Drawings  in  Color  by  Bilibin 

The  prince  went  away  (P.  2) Jacket 

Over  the  water  flew  white  swans  (P.  122)  Frontispiece 

Facing 
Page 

"Do   not   drink,   brother!    If    you    should  you 

would  become  a  little  colt" 12 

He  asked  his  daughters  what  he  should  buy  them       24 

The   congregation   gazed   at  her  and  marvelled 

at  her  beauty 30 

Yonder,  far  away,  flamed  golden  towers      ...  38 

All  that  was  left  in  his  hand  was  one  tail  feather  48 

Prince  Ivan  came  with  the  pretended  Helena  .     .  58 

Prince  Ivan  mounted  the  Gray  Wolf      ....  62 

A  horseman  suddenly  galloped  past  her       ...  78 

The  beautiful  Queen  came  to  meet  him  ....  96 

They  mounted  on  the  horse's  back  and  set  off      .  110 

The  Frog  had  his  arrow 116 


PUBLISHERS'  NOTE 

A  peculiar  interest  attaches  us  to  this  group  of  Russian  folk 
tales  collected  and  translated  by  Nathan  Haskell  Dole.  When 
Mr.  Dole  first  brought  out  the  collection  under  the  title  of  "The 
Russian  Fairy  Book",  he  pointed  out  the  fact  that  the  tales 
were  favorites  of  the  then  Tsar  of  Russia  and  had  been  told  to 
the  Tsar's  own  children. 

The  account  of  their  systematic  collection  and  illustration  is 
of  interest  as  shedding  a  new  light  on  the  character  of  the 
Russian  monarch.  The  Tsar,  it  appears,  remembering  the 
delight  with  which  he  and  his  brothers  in  their  nursery  days 
heard  the  tales  related  by  their  old  nurse,  undertook  to  find  a 
nurse  who  would  entertain  his  own  children  with  the  same 
stories.  But  the  Russian  woman  in  charge  of  the  young  grand- 
duchesses  jumbled  her  stories  with  those  of  the  Brothers 
Grimm,  and  the  French  governess  had  only  Parisian  songs  and 
tales  at  command.  So  the  Tsar  himself  began  a  recital  of  the 
old  folk  tales,  and  ended  by  ordering  that  books  should  be  made 
containing  them  just  as  he  as  a  boy  had  heard  them.  A  young 
Russian  artist  named  Bilibin  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pic- 
tures. These  illustrations,  destined  to  make  the  artist  famous 
on  both  sides  of  the  ocean,  were  not  completed  at  one  time  but 
were  painted  as  the  books  into  which  the  tales  were  collected 
demanded. 

The  tales  are  evidently  based  on  the  primitive  myths  of  the 
old  Slavonians.  They  have  a  flavor  peculiarly  their  own,  and 
incidentally  throw  some  light  on  these  early  manners  and  cus- 
toms. First  printed  one  at  a  time,  as  birthday  books  for  the 
children  of  the  Imperial  household,  the  tales  were  later  brought 
out  by  a  Petrograd  publisher  in  collected  form  for  the  delight 
of  other  Russian  boys  and  girls.  They  are  regarded  as  among 
the  most  typical  of  the  wonder  tales  emanating  from  that  great 
northern  land. 


THE  WHITE  DUCKLING 


THE  WHITE  DUCKLING 

CERTAIN  prince  took  for  his  wife 
a  very  beautiful  princess ;  but  he 
had  hardly  time  to  look  at  her, 
hardly  time  to  have  a  talk  with  her, 
hardly  time  to  hear  her  speak,  before 
he  found  it  necessary  for  him  to  take  leave  of  her, 
necessary  for  him  to  go  on  a  long  journey  and 
to  entrust  his  wife  to  the  care  of  others.  What 
help  for  it  ?  One  can't  take  forever  in  kissing  and 
saying  good-bye. 

The  princess  wept  many  tears.  The  prince 
gave  her  much  good  advice,  forbade  her  to  leave 
her  lofty  enclosure,  or  to  go  into  company,  or  to 
gossip  with  naughty  people,  or  to  listen  to  idle  talk. 
The  princess  promised  to  obey  him  in  all  things. 
The  prince  went  away.  The  princess  locked  her- 
self in  her  room  and  did  not  leave  it. 

After  some  time  a  little  woman  came  to  her, 
apparently  so  simple-hearted,  so  friendly ! 

"What!"  she  exclaimed,  "are  you  lonely?  If 
you  would  only  look  out  into  God's  world,  if  you 


2  THE   WHITE  DUCKLING 

would  only  go  down  into  the  garden  it  would 
banish  all  your  melancholy,  it  would  cool  your 
head." 

For  a  long  time  the  princess  argued  against  it. 
No,  she  would  not  do  it.  But  at  last  she  said  to 
herself,  "It  is  no  sin  to  go  down  into  the  garden," 
and  she  went. 

In  the  garden  flowed  crystal-clear  spring  water. 

" Why !"  exclaimed  the  little  woman,  "the  day 
is  so  warm,  the  sun  is  scorching,  but  the  water  is 
icy  cool.  See  how  it  dashes  !  Could  n't  we  have 
a  bath  here  1 " 

"  No,  no,  I  will  not !  "  she  replied.  But  at  the 
same  time  she  said  to  herself:  "  Why  !  there 's  no 
sin  in  taking  a  bath." 

So  she  stripped  off  her  dress  and  jumped  into 
the  water.  As  soon  as  she  had  ducked  under,  the 
little  woman  gave  her  a  tap  on  the  back. 

"  Swim  off,"  said  she,  "  a  little  White  Duckling." 
And  immediately  the  princess  swam  away  in  the 
shape  of  a  White  Duckling. 

Then  the  sorceress  put  on  the  princess's  clothes 
and  ornaments,  painted  her  cheeks,  and  sat  down 
to  wait  for  the  prince.  As  soon  as  the  puppy 
barked  and  the  bell  jingled,  she  ran  to  meet  the 
prince,  threw  herself  into  his  arms,  kissed  him, 


THE   WHITE   DUCKLING  3 

and  caressed  him.  He  was  so  glad  he  clasped  her 
in  his  arms  and  did  not  recognise  the  deception. 

Bnt  the  White  Duckling  laid  some  eggs,  and 
hatched  two  little  ones  that  were  beautiful  and  a 
third  that  was  ugly,  and  these  little  ones  became 
children.  She  nurtured  them  and  they  began  to 
run  along  by  the  brook,  to  catch  the  gold  fish,  to 
collect  rags  and  to  fashion  coats,  to  play  on  the 
bank,  and  to  look  out  on  the  pretty  meadow. 

"Oh,  do  not  go  there,  children!"  said  the 
mother. 

But  the  children  did  not  heed  her.  To-day  they 
played  on  the  turf,  to-morrow  on  the  green  grass. 
They  kept  venturing  farther  and  farther,  and  so 
they  made  their  way  into  the  prince's  yard.  The 
wicked  sorceress  instantly  recognised  them,  and 
she  gnashed  her  teeth.  She  called  the  children 
to  her,  gave  them  something  to  eat  and  to  drink, 
and  put  them  to  bed.  Then  she  ordered  a  fire  to 
be  built,  and  the  kettle  to  be  hung  over  it,  and 
knives  to  be  sharpened. 

The  two  pretty  brothers  lay  down  and  slept,  but 
the  mother  had  told  the  ugly  sister  to  come  and 
he  against  her  breast  so  as  not  to  catch  cold.  So 
the  ugly  one  could  not  sleep,  but  kept  her  eyes 
wide  open  and  her  ears  wide  open. 


4  THE   WHITE   DUCKLING 

In  the  night  the  wicked  sorceress  came  to  the 
door  and  asked:  "Are  you  asleep,  children,  or  are 
you  awake?" 

The  ugly  one  replied :  "  Whether  we  are  asleep 
or  not,  we  have  made  up  our  minds  that  they  are 
going  to  kill  us  all.  The  red-hot  fire  is  built, 
the  bubbling  pot  is  hung,  the  steely  knives  are 
sharpened." 

"  They  are  not  asleep,"  said  the  sorceress,  and 
she  went  away. 

After  awhile  she  came  back  again  to  the  door. 
"  Are  you  asleep,  children,  or  not  ?  " 

The  ugly  one  made  the  same  answer:  "Whether 
we  are  asleep  or  not,  we  have  made  up  our  minds 
that  they  are  going  to  kill  us.  The  red-hot  fire 
is  built,  the  bubbling  pot  is  hung,  the  steely 
knives  are  sharpened." 

"Why  is  it  always  one  voice  replies'?"  won- 
dered the  sorceress.  She  opened  the  door  a  little 
way  and  perceived  that  the  two  brothers  were 
sound  asleep.  Instantly  she  touched  them  with 
her  deathly  hand  and  they  died. 

In  the  morning  the  White  Duckling  called  her 
children;  they  did  not  come.  Her  heart  had  a 
presentiment.  She  shook  her  wings  and  flew  into 
the  prince's  courtyard.     In  the  courtyard,  white 


THE   WHITE   DUCKLING  5 

as  napkins,  cold  as  clods,  lay  the  brothers  side  by 
side.  She  flew  down  to  them,  threw  herself  on 
them,  spread  her  wings,  pressed  close  to  them, 
and  in  a  mother's  voice  cried  out: 

"  Krya  !  krya !  my  children  sweet ! 
Krya !  krya !  my  darling  dears  ! 
I  nurtured  you  in  sorrow  deep, 
I  made  you  drink  my  bitter  tears, 
On  darkest  nights  I  did  not  sleep, 
No  morsel  sweet  I  took  to  eat !  " 

"Wife!  Do  you  hear  this  marvellous  thing?" 
said  the  prince  to  the  sorceress.  "  A  duckling  is 
talking!" 

"  What  is  wonderful  about  that  %  "  scoffed  the 
witch.    "  Order  the  duckling  driven  out  of  the  yard." 

They  drove  her  out,  but  she  flew  back  again  to 
her  children : 

"  Krya !  krya !  my  children  sweet ! 
Krya !  krya !  my  darling  dears ! 
A  wicked  witch  has  murdered  you ! 
A  wicked  witch,  a  cruel  snake, 
A  cruel  snake,  a  viper  too  ! 
She  robbed  you  of  your  loving  sire, 
Your  loving  sire,  my  heart's  desire  ! 
She  sunk  us  in  the  rapid  river, 
She  changed  us  into  ducklings  white, 
But  she  lives  on  and  boasts  her  might ! " 

free  Public  Library,  Newark,  N.  i( 


6  THE   WHITE  DUCKLING 

"  Aha ! "  said  the  prince  to  himself,  and  he 
cried  out :  "  Bring  me  the  White  Duckling !  " 

All  started  off,  but  the  White  Duckling  flew 
away  and  would  not  give  herself  up  to  anyone. 
Then  the  prince  himself  went  in  pursuit  of  her, 
and  she  fluttered  down  into  his  hands. 

He  took  her  under  the  wings,  and  she  began 
to  change  into  different  reptiles.  The  prince  was 
not  alarmed ;  he  did  not  let  her  out  of  his  hands. 
After  a  time  she  changed  into  a  spindle.  The 
prince  broke  the  spindle  in  two.  One  end  he  threw 
in  front  of  him,  the  other  end  he  threw  behind  him, 
and  he  said :  "  Let  a  white  birch  stand  behind  me, 
and  a  beautiful  maiden  in  front  of  me ! " 

A  white  birch  giew  up  behind  him  and  a  beau- 
tiful maiden  stood  in  front  of  him,  and  in  the 
beautiful  maiden  the  prince  recognised  his  young 
princess.  When  the  princess  perceived  her 
children  lying  side  by  side,  white  as  napkins, 
cold  as  clods,  she  burst  into  bitter  tears: 

"  My  children !  O  my  darling  dears ! 
I  nurtured  you  in  sorrow  deep, 
I  made  you  drink  my  bitter  tears ! 
A  wicked  witch  has  murdered  you, 
A  wicked  witch,  a  cruel  snake, 
A  cruel  snake,  a  viper  too !  " 


THE   WHITE   DUCKLING  7 

When  the  prince  looked  at  the  princess  he  also 
wept.  He  ordered  the  sorceress  to  be  brought 
out,  and  when  she  came  he  commanded  her  to 
bring  the  children  to  life  again. 

The  sorceress  was  very  angry,  she  gnashed  her 
teeth,  but  she  saw  that  there  was  no  help  for  it. 
So  she  told  them  to  catch  a  certain  Eaven  and 
attach  to  it  two  vials,  and  order  the  Raven  to 
bring  in  one  the  Water  of  Life  and  in  the  other 
the  Water  of  Speech. 

The  raven  flew  away  and  brought  back  the 
water.  They  sprinkled  the  children  with  the 
Water  of  Life ;  they  began  to  move.  They 
sprinkled  them  with  the  Water  of  Speech;  they 
spoke.  And  so  the  prince  and  his  whole  family 
from  that  time  forth  lived  and  flourished,  and 
lived  well  and  forgot  what  trouble  had  passed. 

But  they  fastened  the  sorceress  to  a  horse's  tail, 
and  she  was  torn  to  pieces  over  the  field.  Where 
a  leg  was  torn  off  there  lay  a  poker,  and  where  an 
arm  was  torn  off  they  found  a  rake,  and  where 
her  head  was  torn  off,  there  was  a  shrub  and  a 
stump.  And  the  birds  came  and  pecked  it  to 
pieces,  and  the  winds  blew  the  dust  away,  so  that 
nothing  was  left  of  her  —  not  a  trace,  nor  even  a 
memory ! 


;  <> 


7/ 


THE  LITTLE  SISTER  AND  LITTLE 
BROTHER 


THE  LITTLE  SISTER  AND  LITTLE 
BROTHER 


WO  orphans,  little  Sister  Aliona  and 
little  Brother  Ivan,  were  walking 
across  a  wide  field  by  a  long  path, 
and  it  was  hot  and  the  heat  tortured 
them. 

They  went  and  they  went  and  they  went.     The 
sun  rode  high  and  little  Ivan  grew  thirsty. 
"  Sister  Aliona,  I  want  a  drink,"  he  said. 
"Wait  a  while,  brother,  we  shall   come  to    a 
well,"  she  answered. 

The  well  was  a  long  way  off,  the  heat  tortured 
them,  and  they  reeked  with  perspiration.  As  they 
walked  along  they  saw  a  pond,  and  around  the 
pond  a  herd  of  cows  was  feeding. 
"  I  want  a  drink,"  said  little  Ivan. 
"Do  not  drink  here,  brother!  If  you  do  you 
will  turn  into  a  calf,"  said  Aliona. 

He  heeded  her  and  they  went  on.  They  walked 
and  they  walked  and  they  saw  a  river,  and  near 
the  river  was  a  drove  of  horses. 


12      LITTLE   SISTER  AND   BROTHER 

"  Oh,  sister!  If  you  only  knew  how  thirsty  I 
am !  "  he  cried. 

"Do  not  drink,  brother!  If  you  should,  you 
would  become  a  little  colt,"  she  answered. 

Little  Ivan  obeyed  her  and  they  went  on. 
They  walked  and  they  walked  and  they  saw  a 
lake,  and  around  it  was  grazing  a  flock  of  sheep. 

"  Oh,  sister !  I  am  terribly  thirsty ! "  he  said 
again. 

"Do  not  drink,  brother!  If  you  do  you  will 
turn  into  a  lamb,"  she  replied. 

Again  little  Ivan  heeded  her  and  they  went  on. 
They  walked  and  they  walked  and  they  saw  a 
brook,  and  on  its  banks  swine  were  rooting. 

"  Oh,  sister ! "  he  pleaded.  "  I  must  have  a 
drink.     I  am  terribly  thirsty." 

"Do  not  drink,  brother!  If  you  do  you  will 
become  a  pig." 

Again  little  Ivan  heeded  what  she  said  and 
they  went  on.  They  walked  and  they  walked, 
and  they  saw  a  herd  of  goats  grazing  near  some 
water. 

"Oh,  sister!  I  must  have  a  drink!"  he  said 
earnestly. 

"  Do  not  drink,  brother !  "  she  besought.  "  If 
you  do  you  will  turn  into  a  kid ! " 


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"  Do  not'  drink,  brother  !    If  you  should  you  would 
become  a  little  colt  " 


LITTLE   SISTER   AND   BROTHER      13 

But  he  could  no  longer  restrain  himself,  and  he 
disobeyed  his  sister.  He  took  a  drink  and  in- 
stantly was  changed  into  a  Kid,  running  and  gam- 
bolling in  front  of  his  sister  and  crying,  "  Baa ! 
baa!" 

Aliona  suspected  that  it  was  her  brother.  She 
sat  down  in  the  shade  of  a  hayrick  and  burst  into 
bitter  tears,  but  the  Kid  ran  about  on  the  grass 
near  her.  She  tied  a  silken  scarf  around  him 
and  led  him  along  with  her,  and  she  wept,  bitterly 
she  wept. 

The  Kid  ran  and  ran  and  finally  ran  into  the 
garden  of  a  certain  Tsar.  The  men  perceived  it 
and  immediately  called  the  Tsar's  attention  to  it. 

"  Your  majesty,"  they  said,  "  a  Kid  has  just  run 
into  our  garden,  and  a  girl  has  him  by  a  girdle, 
and  she  is  such  a  beauty !  " 

The  Tsar  commanded  to  find  out  who  she  was. 
So  the  people  went  and  asked  her  whence  she 
came  and  what  her  name  was. 

"My  name  is  so-and-so,"  said  Aliona,  "and  I 
had  a  father  and  mother,  but  they  died  and  only 
we  children  were  left,  I  myself  and  this  my 
brother  little  Ivan.  We  were  coming  a  long  way 
and  we  kept  on  walking  and  walking  when  we  saw 
a  herd  of  goats  grazing  near  some  water,  and  my 


14      LITTLE  SISTER  AND   BROTHER 

brother  could  not  restrain  himself;  he  drank 
a  little  of  the  water  and  was  changed  into  a 
Kid." 

The  men  reported  this  to  the  Tsar.  The  Tsar 
summoned  Aliona  and  asked  her  about  every- 
thing. She  was  pleasing  in  his  sight  and  he 
wanted  to  marry  her. 

"Come!"  said  he,  "follow  me.  I  will  give 
you  fine  clothes  and  silver,  and  I  will  not  neglect 
the  Kid;  wherever  you  are  there  he  shall  be 
also." 

The  wedding  quickly  took  place  and  they  began 
to  live  together,  and  the  Kid  with  them.  He 
used  to  disport  himself  in  the  garden,  and  eat  and 
drink  with  the  Tsar  and  Tsaritsa.  Good  men 
gazing  at  them  were  delighted,  but  evil-minded 
men  were  full  of  envy. 

One  time  the  Tsar  went  hunting,  and  while 
he  was  away  a  witch  came  and  cast  a  spell  on 
the  Tsaritsa,  so  that  she  became  ill,  very  weak, 
and  pale. 

At  the  Tsar's  everything  faded ;  in  the  garden 
the  flowers  began  to  wither ;  the  trees  dried  up ; 
the  grass  grew  sear.  The  Tsar  came  home  and 
asked  the  Tsaritsa :  "  Are  you  ill  1 " 

"Yes,  I  am  indisposed,"  replied  the  Tsaritsa. 


LITTLE   SISTER   AND   BROTHER      15 

The  next  day  the  Tsar  went  hunting  again,  but 
Aliona  lay  at  home  sick. 

The  witch  came  to  her  and  said :  "  Would  you 
like  me  to  cure  you?  Go  to  a  certain  lake  at 
dawn  and  drink  the  water  there." 

The  Tsaritsa  heeded  her,  and  in  the  early  morn- 
ing she  went  to  the  lake,  but  the  witch  was  there 
waiting  for  her  and  seized  her,  hung  a  stone  around 
her  neck,  and  flung  her  into  the  water.  Aliona  went 
to  the  bottom.  The  Kid  came  running  down  to 
the  water  and  bitterly,  bitterly  lamented. 

Then  the  witch  took  the  shape  of  the  Tsaritsa, 
arrayed  herself  in  her  fine  clothes,  and  went  to 
the  palace. 

The  Tsar  came  home  and  was  delighted  because 
the  Tsaritsa  was  restored  to  health  again.  They 
sat  down  to  dinner  and  began  to  eat. 

"  But  where  is  the  Kid  % "  demanded  the 
Tsar. 

"  We  do  not  need  him,"  replied  the  witch.  "  I 
would  not  let  him  come  in,  he  smells  so  goaty." 

The  next  day,  as  soon  as  the  Tsar  had  gone  off 
hunting,  the  witch  began  to  beat  the  poor  little 
Kid.  She  pounded  him  and  pounded  him,  and 
said  in  threatening  tones:  "When  the  Tsar  comes 
home  I  will  ask  him  to  have  you  killed." 


16      LITTLE   SISTER  AND   BROTHER 

The  Tsar  came  and  immediately  the  witch 
began  to  urge  him:  "Give  your  command,  yes, 
give  your  command  to  kill  the  little  Kid.  He  is 
a  nuisance  to  me,  he  is  entirely  detestable  to  me!  " 

The  Tsar  felt  sorry  for  the  poor  little  Kid,  but 
there  was  no  help  for  it,  she  was  so  insistent, 
she  was  so  urgent,  that  the  Tsar  at  last  consented 
for  him  to  be  killed. 

The  Kid  saw  how  they  were  beginning  to 
sharpen  the  steel  knives  for  him;  he  lamented. 
He  ran  to  the  Tsar  and  besought  him :  "  Tsar, 
let  me  go  down  to  the  lake  and  get  a  drink  of 
water  and  bathe  myself! " 

The  Tsar  let  him  go.  As  soon  as  the  poor 
little  Kid  reached  the  lake  he  stood  on  the  shore 
and  cried  out  piteously : 

"  Dear  Aliona,  sister  mine ! 
Come  forth,  come  forth  upon  the  shore ! 
The  flaming  fire  is  burning  bright, 
The  boiling  pot  is  bubbling  o'er, 
They  're  sharpening  the  steely  knife, 
They  're  going  to  take  away  my  life." 

She  replied  to  him : 

"Oh,  Ivan,  little  brother,  dear! 
A  heavy  stone  keeps  me  down  here, 
A  cruel  snake  gnaws  at  my  heart." 


LITTLE   SISTER  AND   BROTHER      17 

The  poor  little  Kid  lamented  and  went  back 
home.  At  noon  he  again  asked  the  Tsar :  "  Tsar, 
let  me  go  down  to  the  lake  and  get  a  drink  of 
water  and  bathe  myself." 

The  Tsar  let  him  go.  The  poor  little  Kid  ran 
down  to  the  lake  again,  and  began  to  lament 
piteously : 

"  Dear  Aliona,  sister  mine ! 
Come  forth,  come  forth  upon  the  shore  ! 
The  flaming  fire  is  burning  bright, 
The  boiling  pot  is  bubbling  o'er, 
They  're  sharpening  the  steely  knife, 
They  're  going  to  take  away  my  life." 

She  answered  him : 

"  Oh,  Ivan,  little  brother  dear ! 
A  heavy  stone  keeps  me  down  here, 
A  cruel  snake  gnaws  at  my  heart." 

The  poor  little  Kid  lamented  and  went  home. 

But  the  Tsar  began  to  think :  "  What  can  this 
mean?  The  little  Kid  keeps  going  down  to  the 
lake." 

Then  for  the  third  time  the  poor  little  Kid 
asked :  "  Tsar,  let  me  go  down  to  the  lake  and 
get  a  drink  of  water  and  bathe  myself." 

The  Tsar  let  him  go,  but  this  time  followed  him. 


18      LITTLE   SISTER  AND   BROTHER 

Going  down  to  the  lake  lie  listened  as  the  Kid 
called  to  his  sister: 

11  Dear  Aliona,  sister  mine ! 
Come  forth,  come  forth  upon  the  shore ! 
The  flaming  fire  is  burning  bright, 
The  boiling  pot  is  bubbling  o'er, 
They  're  sharpening  the  steely  knife, 
They  're  going  to  take  away  my  life." 

And  she  replied : 

"  Oh,  Ivan,  little  brother  dear ! 
A  heavy  stone  keeps  me  down  here, 
A  cruel  snake  gnaws  at  my  heart." 

But  now  the  poor  little  Kid  began  to  call  to  his 
sister  to  come  to  the  surface. 

Aliona  swam  up  to  the  top  and  showed  herself 
above  the  water.  The  Tsar  seized  her,  took  the 
stone  from  her  neck,  and  dragged  her  ashore,  and 
then  asked  her  how  this  had  happened,  and  she 
told  him  the  whole  story.  The  Tsar  was  very 
glad,  and  so  was  the  poor  little  Kid,  and  he  gam- 
bolled about,  and  in  the  garden  everything  grew 
green  and  burst  into  bloom  again. 

The  Tsar  ordered  the  wicked  witch  to  be 
punished.  They  gathered  a  pile  of  wood  in  the 
courtyard  and  burned  her  alive.  And  after  this 
the   Tsar   and   the   Tsaritsa   and   the   little   Kid 


LITTLE   SISTER  AND   BROTHER      19 

lived,  and  lived  happily  and  lived  well,  and  they 
ate  and  drank  together  just  as  they  used  to  do 
before. 


Translator's  Note.  —  This  story  is  plainly  a  nature  myth.  The  wicked 
witch  is  Winter,  who  temporarily  drives  away  the  Summer  or  Spring,  but  when 
she  returns  the  Tsar's  garden  blooms  again  and  the  little  Kid  gambols  around 
the  bountiful  table.  That  explains  why  the  Kid  is  not  restored  to  his  pristine 
form.     He  stands  for  the  yeung  life  of  the  world  in  the  early  Spring. 


THE  BRIGHT-HAWK'S  FEATHER 


THE  BRIGHT-HAWKS  FEATHER 

[NCE  upon  a  time  there  lived  an  old 
man  and  his  old  wife,  and  they  had 
three  daughters.  The  oldest  and 
the  next  oldest  were  gay  girls,  but 
the  youngest  was  occupied  only 
with  the  housework,  and  yet  she  was  so  beautiful 
that  no  tongue  could  describe  or  pen  depict  her. 
When  she  walked  along  the  street  every  eye  was 
fastened  upon  her ;  all  the  other  girls  were  not  to 
be  compared  with  her. 

One  day  the  old  man  was  getting  ready  to  go 
to  town  to  attend  the  fair,  and  he  asked  his  daugh- 
ters what  he  should  buy  for  them. 
The  eldest  said :  "  Buy  me  a  coat." 
And  the  next  oldest  said  the  same.  "  But  what 
shall  I  get  for  you,  my  dear  little  daughter  1 " 
asked  the  old  man  of  the  youngest. 

"  Dear  papa,  buy  me  a  ruby-red  flower." 
The  old  man  began  to  laugh  at  his  youngest 
daughter.     "  Well  now,  what  do  you  want  a  ruby- 
red  flower  for,  you  stupid  little  girl  1     What  good 


24     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER 

is  there  in  that?  I  would  rather  buy  you  some 
nice  piece  of  finery." 

But  in  spite  of  all  he  said  he  could  not  change 
her  mind. 

"Buy  me  a  ruby-red  flower"  —  and  that  was 
the  end  of  it. 

The  father  bade  them  good-bye,  got  into  his 
cart,  and  rode  off  to  the  city  to  the  fair,  where  he 
bought  his  two  older  daughters  what  they  asked 
him  to  get  for  them ;  but  nowhere  could  he  find 
the  ruby-red  flower,  though  he  went  through  the 
whole  fair  from  one  end  to  the  other;  no  such 
flower  was  to  be  found  anywhere  at  all. 

The  old  man  drove  home  and  he  delighted  the 
eldest  daughter  and  the  next  older  with  their  fine 
coats. 

"  Here,  my  dear  daughters,  are  what  you  wanted 
me  to  get  for  you,"  said  he  ;  "  but,"  turning  to  the 
youngest,  "I  couldn't  find  any  ruby-red  flower 
for  you." 

"  Very  well,"  said  she  ;  "  perhaps  next  time  you 
will  have  better  luck  in  finding  it." 

The  two  older  sisters  cut  and  sewed  their  new 
coats,  and  they  made  fun  of  their  youngest  sister. 

"  Oh,  you  stupid  girl !  What  did  you  expect  1 
You  should  have  asked  for  something  else  ! " 


/.    ^C^^M.gniffl.g.WHgy--  *7 


He  asked  his  daughters  what  he  should  buy  ther 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER     25 

But  of  course  she  endured  their  gibes  without 
saying  a  word. 

Another  time  the  father  prepared  to  go  to  town 
again  for  the  fair,  and  he  asked :  "  Well,  my 
daughters,  what  shall  I  get  for  you  ?  " 

The  eldest  asked  for  a  new  dress,  and  so  did  the 
middle  one,  but  the  youngest  again  said:  "Buy 
me  a  ruby-red  flower,  papa  dear." 

The  father  bade  them  good-bye,  took  his  seat 
in  his  cart,  and  drove  off  to  town.  He  bought 
two  dresses,  but  no  sign  of  a  ruby-red  flower  could 
his  eyes  behold. 

When  he  got  home  he  said,  "Alas,  my  dear 
daughter,  again  I  have  had  no  luck  in  finding  your 
ruby-red  flower." 

"  No  matter,  dear  father,  perhaps  another  time 
you  will  have  better  luck." 

Well  then,  a  third  time  the  old  man  made  ready 
to  go  to  town  to  the  fair,  and  he  said :  "  Tell  me, 
my  dear  daughters,  what  I  shall  get  for  you." 

The  two  older  ones  said:  "Buy  us  some  ear- 
rings, father  dear." 

But  again  the  youngest  repeated  her  "  Buy  me 
the  ruby-red  flower,  father." 

The  old  man  bade  them  good-bye,  took  his  seat, 
and  drove  off.     He  bought  some  gold  ear-rings; 


26     THE   BRIGHT-HAWKS   FEATHER 

then  he  set  to  work  to  find  the  flower.  He 
searched  and  searched,  but  nothing  of  the  sort  was 
to  be  found.  He  felt  disappointed,  and  started 
to  go  home.  He  had  hardly  passed  the  city  gate 
when  he  met  by  chance  a  very  old,  old  man  who 
carried  in  his  hand  a  ruby-red  flower. 

"  My  dear  little  old  man,  sell  me  your  ruby-red 
flower,"  he  said. 

"It  is  not  for  sale,  it  is  a  keepsake,"  replied 
the  stranger ;  "  but  if  you  will  let  your  youngest 
daughter  marry  my  son,  Finist  the  Bright-Hawk, 
then  I  will  let  you  have  the  ruby-red  flower  for 
nothing." 

The  father  thought  the  matter  over  in  his  mind. 

"  If  I  don't  get  the  flower  my  dear  little  daughter 
will  be"bitterly  disappointed,  but  if  I  take  it  I  shall 
have  to  give  her  in  marriage,  and  God  knows  who 
her  husband  will  be." 

He  thought  it  over  and  he  thought  it  over,  but 
finally  he  decided  to  take  the  ruby-red  flower. 

"  After  all,  what  is  the  harm  %  "  he  asked  him- 
self. "  Even  after  they  are  engaged,  if  it  does  not 
look  well,  we  can  break  it  off." 

He  drove  home,  gave  his  two  oldest  daughters 
their  ear-rings,  and  to  the  youngest  he  handed  the 
little  flower,    saying :   "  I  do  not  like  your  little 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWKS   FEATHER     27 

flower,  my  darling  daughter,  I  do  not  like  it  at  all." 
And  he  whispered  softly  in  her  ear :  "  You  see, 
this  little  flower  was  a  keepsake ;  I  got  it  of  a 
stranger,  a  little  old  man,  on  condition  that  I  would 
let  you  marry  his  son  Finist  the  Bright-Hawk." 

"  Do  not  be  troubled,  father  dear,"  said  his 
daughter  in  reply ;  "  you  see  he  is  such  a  fine  and 
courteous  young  man,  and  he  flies  like  a  bright 
hawk  through  the  sky,  but  as  soon  as  he  touches  the 
moist  earth  he  becomes  a  fine  young  man  again." 

"  So  you  know  him,  then  1 " 

"  I  know  him,  yes,  I  know  him,  my  dear  father. 
Last  Sunday  he  was  at  mass,  and  he  kept  gazing 
at  me  and  I  talked  with  him.  You  see  he  loves 
me,  father  dear." 

The  old  man  shook  his  head,  looked  at  his 
daughter  so  pitifully,  crossed  himself,  and  said : 
"Go  to  your  little  room,  my  darling  daughter. 
It  is  time  to  go  to  bed.  Morning  is  wiser  than 
Evening.     We  will  think  it  over." 

So  the  girl  went  to  her  room  and  put  the  ruby- 
red  flower  in  water ;  then  she  opened  the  window 
and  gazed  out  into  the  blue  distance. 

From  somewhere  or  other  there  suddenly  flew 
before  her  Finist  the  Bright-Hawk-of-the-gaudy- 
feathers,  and  he  flew  straight  into  the  window, 


28     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER 

and  as  soon  as  he  touched  the  floor  he  became 
a  fine  young  man.  The  girl  was  startled,  but 
as  soon  as  he  began  to  talk  with  her  it  is  im- 
possible to  tell  how  gay  and  happy  she  felt  in 
her  heart. 

They  talked  till  dawn,  no  one  knows  about  what, 
but  as  soon  as  it  began  to  grow  light  Finist  the 
Bright-Hawk  kissed  her  and  said  :  "  Every  night 
when  you  set  the  ruby-red  flower  in  the  window  I 
will  come  flying  to  you,  my  darling.  And  here  is 
a  feather  from  my  wing ;  if  ever  you  want  any 
fine  things,  take  the  feather  and  wave  it  to  the 
right,  and  in  a  twinkling  anything  that  your  heart 
desires  will  be  at  your  service." 

He  kissed  her  again,  changed  into  a  bright 
hawk,  and  flew  off  into  the  dark  forest. 

The  young  girl  followed  her  betrothed  with  her 
gaze,  then  closed  the  window  and  went  to  bed. 

From  that  time  forth,  every  night  she  stood  the 
ruby-red  flower  in  the  open  window,  and  the  fine 
young  man,  Finist  the  Bright-Hawk,  always  came 
to  her. 

Once  it  was  a  Sunday.  The  bells  began  to 
ring  in  church.  The  two  older  sisters  prepared 
to  go  to  mass.  They  dressed  themselves  in  their 
smart  new  dresses,  they  put  on  new  kerchiefs,  they 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER     29 

adorned  their  ears  with  their  gold  ear-rings,  and 
they  ridiculed  their  youngest  sister. 

"  Oh,  you  stupid  creature !  "  they  said.  "  What 
are  you  going  to  wearl  You  have  n't  anything  new 
to  put  on !     Stay  at  home  with  your  red  flower !  " 

But  she  replied :  "  That  is  all  right,  my  dear 
sisters  ;  do  not  worry  yourselves  about  me,  I  will 
say  my  prayers  at  home." 

The  two  older  sisters  arrayed  themselves  like 
gay  birds  and  went  to  mass,  but  the  youngest  one 
sat  down  at  her  little  window,  all  soiled  and  be- 
draggled, in  her  wretched  old  coat,  and  she  looked 
down  on  the  orthodox  people  as  they  were  wend- 
ing their  ways  to  God's  church.  They  all  were 
dressed  in  their  fine  clothes,  the  men  in  new 
kaftans,  and  the  women  in  holiday  sarafans  and 
bright-colored  variegated  kerchiefs. 

The  young  girl  waited  awhile,  then  she  took 
the  colored  feather,  looked  at  it,  and  waved  it  to 
the  right.  Instantly,  from  somewhere,  appeared 
before  her  a  glass  coach,  drawn  by  stallions,  and 
servants  in  gold  livery,  while  for  herself  were  fine 
raiment  and  all  sorts  of  adornments  of  the  costliest 
and  brightest  colored  precious  stones. 

In  a  twinkling  the  beautiful  girl  dressed  herself, 
took  her  seat  in   the  carriage,    and  was  whirled 


30     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER 

away  to  church.  The  congregation  gazed  at  her 
and  marvelled  at  her  beauty.  "  She  must  be  some 
queen  come  from  the  ends  of  the  earth,"  said  the 
people  one  to  another. 

As  soon  as  the  choir  began  to  sing  the  "  Holy, 
holy  "  she  left  the  church,  took  her  seat  in  the 
coach,  and  was  whisked  away  home.  The  ortho- 
dox people  hurried  out  to  see  which  way  she 
went,  but  no  matter  where  they  looked  not  a  sign 
of  her  was  to  be  seen. 

But  our  beauty  hurried  back  to  her  feather, 
and  she  waved  it  to  the  left,  and  in  a  twinkling 
the  servants  took  off  her  clothes  and  the  coach 
vanished  from  sight. 

There  she  was,  sitting  as  before,  as  if  nothing 
had  happened,  and  was  looking  out  of  her  little 
window  as  the  orthodox  congregation  scattered  to 
their  homes.     Her  sisters  also  came  home. 

"Well,  sister,"  said  they,  "there  was  such  a 
beautiful  woman  at  mass  to-day;  such  an  one  was 
never  seen  before ;  no  tongue  could  describe  or 
pen  depict  her  beauty.  It  must  be  some  queen 
come  from  foreign  shores,  so  splendidly  was  she 
dressed,  so  magnificently  decked  out." 

The  same  thing  happened  the  second  Sunday 
and    the    third.     You    see,  the    beautiful    girl 


The  congregation  gazed  at  her  and  marvelled  at  her  beauty 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER     31 

mystified  the  orthodox  people  and  her  sisters  and 
her  father  and  her  mother.  But  one  last  time 
she  started  to  undress  and  she  forgot  to  take  out 
of  her  braided  hair  a  diamond  brooch. 

The  older  sisters  came  from  church  and  began 
to  tell  their  young  sister  about  the  beautiful  queen ; 
but  when  they  looked  at  her  they  saw  the  diamond 
glittering  so  brilliantly  in  her  braided  hair ! 

"Now,  sister,  what  is  that  on  you?"  the  girls 
exclaimed.  "  Why,  just  such  a  brooch  the  queen 
wore  on  her  head  this  day !  Where  did  you 
get  it?" 

The  beautiful  girl  groaned  in  spirit  and  ran  off 
to  her  little  room.  There  was  no  end  of  questions 
and  conjectures  and  whisperings,  but  the  youngest 
sister  said  not  a  word,  but  only  smiled  a  quiet 
smile. 

So  now  the  older  sisters  began  to  keep  an  eye 
on  her;  and  at  night  they  would  listen  at  the 
door  of  her  little  room,  and  one  time  they  over- 
heard her  talking  with  Finist  the  Bright- Hawk, 
and  when  dawn  came  they  saw  with  their  own 
eyes  how  he  flew  out  of  her  window  and  hid 
behind  the  dark  forest. 

These  girls,  it  seems,  were  wicked  —  the  older 
sisters.      They    agreed    together    to   put    hidden 


32     THE   BRIGHT-HAWKS   FEATHER 

knives  in  the  window  of  their  sister's  little  room 
so  that  the  Bright-Hawk's  gaudy  wings  might 
be  clipped  off  on  them.  What  they  plotted  they 
performed,  and  the  youngest  sister  had  not  a  sus- 
picion of  it.  As  usual,  she  set  her  ruby-red  flower 
in  the  window,  lay  down  on  the  bed,  and  fell 
sound  asleep. 

In  the  night  the  Bright-Hawk  came  flying  up ; 
he  flapped  his  wings  and  flapped  his  wings,  but 
he  could  not  get  into  the  chamber ;  all  he  did  was 
to  cut  his  wings.  "  Good-bye,  lovely  girl,"  he 
cried ;  "  if  you  want  to  find  me,  then  seek  for  me 
beyond  the  thrice-nine  lands  in  the  thirtieth  king- 
dom. But  before  you  find  me  you  will  wear  out 
three  pahs  of  iron  shoes,  you  will  break  three 
iron  staves,  you  will  eat  three  iron  wafers.  Fare- 
well, dear  good  girl !  " 

All  this  time  the  girl  was  asleep,  but  she  seemed 
to  hear  through  her  dream  the  harsh  words,  and 
she  tried  to  wake  up  but  she  could  not. 

In  the  morning  she  awoke  and  looked  all  around 
her.  It  was  already  bright  day,  but  no  sign  of 
the  fine  young  man !  But  when  she  looked  at  the 
window,  there,  criss-cross,  stuck  sharp  knives,  and 
from  them,  on  the  ruby-red  flower,  blood  was 
dropping. 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER     33 

Long  did  the  girl  weep  bitter  tears,  many  sleep- 
less nights  did  she  sit  by  the  window  of  her  little 
room,  again  and  again  did  she  wave  the  gaudy 
feather,  but  all  in  vain  —  Finist  the  Bright-Hawk 
came  no  more  flying  to  her,  neither  did  any  ser- 
vants come. 

At  last,  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  she  went  to  her 
father  and  asked  him  for  his  blessing. 

"I  am  going,"  she  said,  "whither  eyes  look." 

She  ordered  three  pairs  of  iron  shoes  to  be 
forged  for  her,  three  iron  staves,  and  three  iron 
wafers.  With  a  pair  of  shoes  on  her  feet  and  a 
staff  in  her  hand,  she  started  off  in  the  direction 
from  which  the  Bright-Hawk  had  come  flying 
to  her. 

She  entered  the  dim  forest ;  she  stumbled  over 
stump  and  hump ;  already  her  iron  shoes  were 
wearing  out,  her  staff  broken,  her  wafer  eaten, 
but  still  the  beautiful  girl  kept  walking  on  and 
on,  and  the  forest  grew  ever  darker,  ever  denser. 

Suddenly  she  saw  standing  before  her  a  little 
hut  on  hens'  legs,  and  it  kept  turning  round  and 
round. 

The  girl  cried  out :  "  Little  hut,  little  hut,  stand 
with  your  back  to  the  forest  and  your  front  to 
me."  ' 


34     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER 

The  hut  turned  round  with  its  front  to  her. 
She  went  into  the  little  hut,  and  there  lay  Baba 
Yago  the  Witch  from  corner  to  corner,  her  lips  in 
a  ridge,  her  nose  in  the  ceiling.  "Fu !  fu !  fu !  "  she 
cried.  "  Hitherto  no  eye  ever  saw  or  ear  ever  heard 
of  Russian  spirit,  but  to-day  Russian  spirit  is 
marching  through  the  free  world  and  strikes  you 
in  the  eye  and  throws  itself  into  your  face !  Where 
are  you  going,  my  pretty  maid  ?  Do  you  arrive 
from  a  doughty  deed,  or  do  you  strive  for  a  doughty 
deed?" 

"Grannie,"  she  answered,  "the  Bright-Hawk 
used  to  be  with  me,  but  my  sisters  did  me  an 
injury.     I  am  now  in  search  of  him." 

"  You  will  have  to  go  far,  little  one  !  You 
will  have  to  go  even  to  the  thrice-nine  lands. 
The  Bright-Hawk  is  living  in  the  thrice-ninth 
kingdom,  in  the  thirtieth  realm,  and  he  is  already 
betrothed  to  the  Tsar's  daughter." 

Then  Baba  Yaga  gave  food  and  drink  to  the 
beautiful  girl  whom  God  had  sent,  and  put  her 
to  bed ;  and  in  the  morning  as  soon  as  day  began 
to  dawn  she  woke  her  up,  gave  her  a  precious 
gift — a  silver  distaff  and  a  golden  spindle — and 
said :  "  Now  go  to  my  next  older  sister,  and  God 
be  with  you ;  she  will  give  you  some  good  advice. 


THE  BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER     35 

And  here  is  my  gift  to  you, — a  silver  distaff  and 
a  golden  spindle.  You  will  begin  to  spin  the  flax, 
and  it  will  make  a  golden  thread.  Follow  it,  and 
when  you  come  to  the  thrice-ninth  empire,  to  the 
thirtieth  kingdom,  to  the  edge  of  the  blue  sea, 
the  Bright-Hawk's  bride  will  come  down  to  walk 
along  the  beach.  Then  you  must  begin  to  spin, 
and  she  will  want  to  buy  my  gift  to  you.  But, 
my  pretty  maid,  you  must  not  sell  it  to  her ;  only 
ask  to  look  at  the  Bright-Hawk." 

Then  Baba  Yaga  took  a  little  ball,  rolled  it  along 
the  path,  and  bade  the  young  girl  follow  it. 

"Wherever  the  little  ball  rolls,"  said  she,  "there 
must  you  make  your  way." 

The  young  girl  thanked  the  old  dame  and  went 
in  the  direction  the  ball  was  rolling.  Again  she 
walked  through  the  dim  forest,  ever  farther  and 
farther,  and  the  forest  grew  ever  darker  and 
thicker,  and  the  tops  of  the  trees  struck  the  sky. 
A  long,  long  time  she  walked,  and  her  second 
pair  of  iron  shoes  were  worn  out,  her  second 
staff  was  broken,  and  she  had  devoured  her 
second  iron  wafer;  and  at  last  the  little  ball 
rolled  up  to  a  small  hut.  This  small  hut  stood, 
like  the  other,  on  hens'  legs,  and  kept  turning 
and  turning. 


36     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER 

The  beautiful  girl  cried :  "  Little  hut,  little  hut, 
stand  with  your  back  to  the  forest  and  with  your 
front  toward  me !  I  want  to  go  hi  and  get  some- 
thing  to  eat." 

The  hut  obeyed  her ;  it  turned  its  back  to  the 
forest  and  its  front  to  the  girl. 

She  entered,  and  there  in  the  hut  on  the  stove 
on  the  thrice-ninth  brick  lay  Baba  Yaga  the  Bony- 
leg,  with  her  lips  in  a  ridge  and  her  nose  through 
the  ceiling. 

"Fu!  fu!  fu!"  she  cried.  "  Hitherto  no  eye  ever 
saw  or  ear  ever  heard  of  Russian  spirit,  but  to-day 
Russian  spirit  is  marching  through  the  free  world 
and  strikes  you  in  the  eye  and  throws  itself  into 
your  face !  Where  are  you  going,  my  pretty 
maid?  Do  you  arrive  from  a  doughty  deed,  or 
do  you  strive  for  a  doughty  deed  ? " 

The  maiden  replied :  "  Grannie,  the  Bright- 
Hawk  used  to  be  with  me,  but  my  sisters  did  me 
an  injury.     I  am  now  in  search  of  him." 

"  Alas !  my  girl,  my  girl,  your  Finist  is  going 
to  be  married.  This  very  day  the  wedding  takes 
place !  "  exclaimed  the  Baba  Yaga.  She  gave  the 
beautiful  girl  food  and  drink  and  put  her  to  bed, 
and  the  next  morning,  ere  the  dear  sun  had  risen, 
she  woke  her  up  and  gave  her  a  costly  gift  —  a 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWKS   FEATHER     37 

silver  dish  and  a  golden  egg —  and  she  said  to 
her :  "  Now  go  to  my  oldest  sister,  and  God  be 
with  you;  she  will  give  you  some  good  advice. 
And  here  is  my  gift  to  you  —  a  silver  dish  and  a 
golden  egg.  When  you  reach  the  thrice-ninth 
empire,  the  thirtieth  kingdom,  on  the  shores  of 
the  blue  sea  you  will  find  the  Bright-Hawk's  bride 
walking  on  the  beach,  and  you  must  remember 
to  roll  the  egg  on  the  plate.  She  will  want  to 
buy  my  gift  of  you,  but,  my  pretty  maid,  don't 
you  accept  anything ;  only  ask  to  look  at  the 
Bright-Hawk-of-the-gaudy-feathers." 

The  girl  thanked  the  old  dame,  sighed,  and 
again  started  after  the  little  ball ;  and  again  she 
walked  through  the  dim  forest,  on  and  on,  and 
the  forest  grew  ever  darker  and  denser,  and  the 
tree-tops  leaned  against  the  sky.  A  long,  long 
time  she  walked,  and  her  third  pair  of  iron 
shoes  began  to  wear  out  and  her  third  staff  was 
broken,  and  her  last  iron  wafer  devoured.  But 
at  last  the  little  ball  rolled  up  to  a  small  hut 
which,  like  the  others,  stood  on  hens'  legs  and 
kept  on  turning  and  turning. 

The  girl  said  to  the  hut:  "Little  hut,  little  hut, 
turn  your  back  to  the  forest  and  your  front  to  me ! 
I  want  to  go  in  and  get  something  to  eat." 


38     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S  FEATHER 

The  hut  obeyed,  and  turned  its  back  to  the 
forest  and  its  front  to  the  beautiful  girl. 

In  the  hut  was  the  Baba  Yaga  again,  and  she 
was  the  very  oldest  of  the  three. 

"Fu!  fu!  fu!"  she  cried.  "Hitherto  no  eye  ever 
saw  or  ear  ever  heard  of  Russian  spirit,  but  to-day 
Russian  spirit  is  marching  through  the  free  world, 
and  strikes  you  in  the  eye  and  throws  itself  into 
your  face !  Where  are  you  going,  my  pretty  maid  ? 
Do  you  arrive  from  a  doughty  deed,  or  do  you 
strive  for  a  doughty  deed  ? " 

The  beautiful  girl  replied :  "  Grannie,  the  Bright- 
Hawk  used  to  be  with  me,  but  my  sisters  did  me 
an  injury.  He  flew  from  me  beyond  the  distant 
seas,  beyond  the  lofty  mountains,  into  the  thrice- 
ninth  empire,  into  the  thirtieth  kingdom  ;  and  now 
I  am  in  search  of  him." 

"  Alas !  my  girl,  my  dear  little  girl !  He  is 
already  married  to  the  Tsar's  daughter !"  exclaimed 
Baba  Yaga ;  and  she  gave  her  food  and  drink  and 
put  her  to  bed.  In  the  morning,  before  the  stars  in 
the  sky  had  put  out  their  candles,  she  woke  her  up, 
gave  her  a  costly  gift  —  a  gold  embroidery-frame 
and  needle  —  and  said  to  her: 

"  Well,  now  go,  my  dear  girl,  and  God  with  you 
a^d  do  not  dally.     Here  is  my  gift  to  you — a  gold 


Yonder,  far  away,  flamed  golden  towers 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWKS   FEATHER     39 

embroidery-frame  and  needle.  Only  keep  the  needle 
and  it  will  sew  of  itself.  When  you  reach  the  thrice- 
ninth  empire,  the  thirtieth  kingdom,  and  come  to 
the  blue  sea,  the  Tsar's  daughter  will  come  to  you, 
and  she  will  want  to  buy  the  embroidery-frame 
and  the  needle ;  but,  my  pretty  one,  accept  nothing 
in  return.  Only  ask  to  have  a  look  at  the  Bright- 
Hawk." 

The  young  girl  thanked  the  old  dame,  wept 
bitterly,  but  started  off  after  the  little  ball.  And 
now  the  forest  began  to  grow  thinner  and  thinner. 
Presently  the  blue  sea,  wide  and  free,  spread  out  be- 
fore her ;  and  yonder,  far,  far  away,  glittering  like 
fire,  flamed  golden  towers  on  lofty  marble  palaces. 

"  That  must  be  Finist  the  Bright-Hawk's  empire," 
said  the  maiden  to  herself,  and  she  sat  down  on 
the  damp  sea-sand,  took  out  her  silver  distaff  and 
her  golden  spindle  and  began  to  spin,  and  the  golden 
thread  was  formed. 

Soon  there  came  along  the  beach  the  Tsar's 
daughter  with  her  maidens,  and  when  she  saw  the 
beautiful  girl  she  stopped  short  and  wanted  to 
buy  the  silver  distaff  and  the  golden  spindle. 

"  Only  let  me  look  at  the  Bright-Hawk,  princess 
dear,  and  I  will  let  you  have  them  for  nothing," 
replied  the  girl. 


40     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER 

"  Well,  the  Bright-Hawk  is  asleep  now  and  has 
forbidden  anyone  to  disturb  him.  However,  give 
me  your  silver  distaff  and  golden  spindle  and  I 
will  let  you  see  him ! " 

The  Tsar's  daughter  took  the  distaff  and  the 
golden  spindle,  hastened  back  to  the  palace,  thrust 
into  the  Bright-Hawk's  cloak  an  enchanted  brooch, 
so  that  he  might  sleep  more  soundly  and  not  wake 
from  his  sleep  for  a  long,  long  time,  and  then  she 
ordered  the  serving-women  to  bring  the  beautiful 
girl  into  the  palace  to  see  the  Bright-Hawk,  while 
she  herself  went  out  to  walk. 

Long  the  maiden  beat  her  breast,  long  did  she 
weep  over  her  dear  love. 

"Awake,  awake,  my  darling  Finist,  my  Bright- 
Hawk  ! "  she  cried.  "  Your  chosen  maiden  has 
come  to  you.  I  have  broken  three  iron  staves, 
I  have  worn  out  three  pairs  of  iron  shoes,  I  have 
devoured  three  iron  wafers,  and  all  this  time  I 
have  been  searching  for  you,  my  darling." 

But  Finist  slept  on  and  could  not  wake  up. 

The  Tsar's  daughter  having  walked  as  long  as 
she  wanted  to,  came  home.  She  drove  the  girl 
away  and  took  out  the  magic  brooch. 

Then  the  Bright-Hawk  awoke. 

"Uh!    how    long    I    have    slept!"    said   he. 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWKS   FEATHER     41 

"  Someone  was  here  and  was  weeping  and  lament- 
ing over  me;  but  I  could  not  open  my  eyes,  they 
were  so  heavy ! " 

"It  was  only  a  dream,"  replied  the  Tsar's 
daughter;  "no  one  has  been  here." 

The  next  day  the  beautiful  girl  again  sat  on  the 
shore  of  the  blue  sea  and  rolled  the  golden  egg  on 
the  silver  plate. 

The  Tsar's  daughter  came  out  to  take  a  walk, 
saw  it,  and  said :  "  Sell  it  to  me." 

"Only  let  me  look  at  the  Bright-Hawk  and  I 
will  let  you  have  it  for  nothing." 

The  Tsar's  daughter  consented,  and  again  stuck 
the  magic  brooch  into  the  Bright-Hawk's  cloak. 

Again  the  beautiful  girl  wept  bitterly  over  her 
dear  love,  but  she  could  not  waken  him. 

"  Awake,  awake,  my  bright  Prince !  It  is  I,  your 
chosen  maiden.  I  have  come  to  you;  I  have  broken 
three  iron  staves,  I  have  worn  out  three  pairs  of  iron 
shoes,  I  have  eaten  three  iron  cakes,  and  all  this  time 
I  have  been  searching  for  you,  my  darling." 

But  the  Bright-Hawk  slept  on  and  could  not 
wake  up. 

The  Tsar's  daughter  having  walked  as  long  as 
she  wanted  to,  returned  home,  drove  the  girl  away, 
and  took  out  the  magic  brooch. 


42     THE   BRIGHT-HAWK'S   FEATHER 

"  Uh !  how  long  I  have  slept ! "  said  the  Bright- 
Hawk,  awaking  and  yawning.  "  Someone  has  been 
here  and  has  been  weeping  and  lamenting  over  me: 
but  I  could  not  open  my  eyes,  they  were  so  heavy." 

"  It  was  all  a  dream,"  replied  the  Tsar's  daughter; 
"no  one  has  been  here." 

On  the  third  day  the  beautiful  girl  was  sitting 
on  the  shore  of  the  blue  sea,  depressed  and  sad, 
and  she  held  in  her  hands  the  gold  embroidery- 
frame,  and  the  golden  needle  was  embroidering 
by  itself. 

The  Tsar's  daughter  saw  it  and  wanted  to  buy  it. 

"  Only  let  me  look  at  the  Bright-Hawk,"  replied 
the  girl,  "  and  I  will  give  it  to  you." 

The  Tsar's  daughter  consented,  hastened  to  the 
palace,  and  said:  "Finist  the  Bright-Hawk,  let  me 
brush  your  hair." 

She  sat  down  to  brush  his  hair,  and  she  fastened 
into  it  the  magic  brooch. 

Immediately  he  fell  into  a  deep  sleep.  Then  she 
sent  her  serving-women  to  get  the  beautiful  girl. 

She  came  and  tried  to  wake  her  loved  one; 
she  threw  her  arms  around  him,  she  kissed  him,  and 
she  wept  all  the  time  so  bitterly.  But  no,  he  would 
not  wake  up.  Then  she  began  to  smooth  his  hair 
and  she  loosened  the  magic  brooch. 


THE   BRIGHT-HAWKS   FEATHER     43 

Instantly  the  Bright-Hawk  woke  up  and  saw  the 
beautiful  girl.     How  glad  he  was ! 

She  told  him  the  whole  story  as  it  had  happened : 
how  her  wicked  sisters  had  spied  on  her,  how  she 
had  taken  the  long  journey,  and  how  she  had  traded 
with  the  princess. 

He  fell  more  deeply  in  love  with  her  than  before, 
kissed  her  lips,  and  without  delay  commanded  all 
his  nobles  and  princes  and  all  the  ranks  of  the 
people  to  assemble. 

And  he  began  to  ask  them:  "How  would  you 
decide'?  With  which  wife  must  I  spend  my  life — 
with  the  one  that  sold  me  or  with  the  one  that 
bought  me  f  " 

All  the  nobles  and  all  the  princes  and  all  the 
ranks  of  the  people  decided  with  one  voice :  "  Take 
the  one  that  bought  you!" 

And  this  was  what  Finist-the-Bright-Hawk-of- 
the-gaudy-feathers  did.  And  so  they  were  married 
and  they  banqueted  for  three  days  and  three  nights. 

I  also  was  at  that  wedding,  and  I  drank  the  mead ; 
and  if  you  don't  believe  it  you  may  long  for  it,  but 
you  won't  get  a  taste  of  it.  They  put  a  nightcap 
on  me —  Now  what's  the  use  of  talking?  I  think 
I'll  be  off! 


IVAN  AND  THE  GRAY  WOLF 


IVAN  AND  THE  GRAY  WOLF 

|NCE  upon  a  time,  in  a  certain  king- 
dom, in  a  certain  realm,  lived  a  Tsar 
named  Vuislaf.  He  had  three  sons 
of  princely  birth:  the  first  was 
Prince  Dimitri,  the  second  Prince 
Vasili,  and  the  third  was  Prince  Ivan.  This  Tsar 
had  a  garden  so  rich  that  there  was  none  like  it  in 
any  country,  and  in  this  garden  grew  all  kinds  of 
precious  trees  that  bore  fruit  and  did  not  bear  fruit ; 
and  the  Tsar  had  one  favourite  apple-tree  which 
bore  nothing  but  golden  apples.  Now  the  Magic 
Bird  was  in  the  habit  of  flying  into  the  Tsar's 
garden,  and  this  bird  had  golden  feathers  and  eyes 
like  Oriental  crystal.  It  used  to  fly  into  the  garden 
every  night  and  sit  on  the  Tsar's  favourite  apple- 
tree  and  strip  it  of  the  golden  apples  and  then 
fly  away  again. 

The  Tsar  became  greatly  distressed  on  account 
of  his  apple-tree ;  therefore  he  summoned  his  three 
sons  and  said  to  them:  "My  beloved  children! 
Which  of  you  is  able  to  catch  th«  Magic  Bird  in 


48         IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF 

my  garden?  To  the  one  who  will  capture  him 
alive  I  will  give  the  half  of  my  realm  while  I  am 
still  alive,  and  all  of  it  after  I  am  dead." 

Then  his  sons  cried  with  one  voice :  "  Beloved 
sovereign  and  father,  we  will,  with  the  greatest 
delight,  try  to  capture  the  Magic  Bird  alive." 

The  first  night  Prince  Dimitri  went  into  the 
garden  to  watch;  and  taking  his  seat  under  the 
very  apple-tree  from  which  the  Magic  Bird 
robbed  the  apples,  he  fell  asleep  and  did  not  hear 
a  sound  when  the  bird  came  flying  over  and  took  a 
great  quantity  of  the  fruit. 

In  the  morning  the  Tsar  summoned  his  son, 
Prince  Dimitri,  and  asked  him :  "  Well,  my  son, 
did  you  see  the  Magic  Bird  or  not?" 

He  replied  to  his  father:  "No,  my  beloved 
sovereign  and  father,  it  did  not  make  its  appear- 
ance last  night." 

The  next  night  Prince  Vasili  went  into  the 
garden  to  watch  for  the  Magic  Bird.  He  took 
his  seat  under  the  same  apple-tree,  and  after  he 
sat  there  an  hour,  and  then  another  hour  of  the 
night,  he  fell  so  sound  asleep  that  he  did  not  hear 
the  Magic  Bird  come  flying  over  to  strip  off  the 
apples. 

In  the  morning  the  Tsar  called  him  into  his 


IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF         49 

presence  and  asked  him:  "Well,  my  beloved  son, 
did  you  see  the  Magic  Bird  or  not?" 

"My  dear  sovereign  and  father,"  he  answered, 
"it  did  not  make  its  appearance  last  night." 

On  the  third  night  Prince  Ivan  went  into  the 
garden  to  watch,  and  he  took  his  place  under  the 
same  apple-tree.  He  sat  there  an  hour,  then  a 
second  and  then  a  third,  and  suddenly  the  whole 
garden  was  lighted  up  as  if  it  had  been  illuminated 
with  a  multitude  of  bonfires.  It  was  the  Magic 
Bird,  which  came  flying  over  and  lighted  on  the 
apple-tree  and  began  to  steal  the  apples. 

Prince  Ivan  crept  up  to  it  so  stealthily  that  he 
was  able  to  seize  it  by  the  tail.  He  could  not  hold 
it,  however,  and  all  that  was  left  in  his  hand  was 
one  tail  feather. 

In  the  morning  the  Tsar  had  hardly  awakened 
from  his  sleep  ere  Prince  Ivan  came  to  him  and 
gave  him  the  pretty  feather.  The  Tsar  was  mightily 
glad  that  his  youngest  son  had  succeeded  even 
in  obtaining  one  feather  from  the  Magic  Bird. 
This  feather  was  so  wonderful  and  bright  that  if  it 
were  taken  into  a  dark  room  it  lighted  it  up  as  if 
it  had  been  the  red  sun. 

The  Tsar  put  this  feather  into  his  cabinet  as  a 
thing  that  ought  to  be  preserved  forever.     From 


50         IVAN  AND  THE   GRAY   WOLF 

that  time  forth  the  Magic  Bird  came  no  more 
into  the  garden. 

Then  the  Tsar  again  summoned  his  three  sons 
and  said  to  them :  "  My  dearly  beloved  children,  go 
forth  with  my  paternal  blessing  and  capture  the 
Magic  Bird  and  bring  it  to  me  alive,  and  what  I 
promised  before  shall  be  given  to  the  one  who 
brings  the  bird  to  me." 

Prince  Dimitri  and  Prince  Vasili  had  conceived 
a  bitter  hatred  against  their  youngest  brother, 
Prince  Ivan,  because  he  had  succeeded  in  getting 
a  feather  from  the  Magic  Bird's  tail.  They 
received  their  father's  blessing  and  went  forth 
together  to  hunt  for  the  bird.  Then  Prince  Ivan 
also  began  to  ask  his  father  for  his  blessing. 
However  much  the  Tsar  strove  to  detain  Ivan  he 
could  not  help  letting  him  go,  because  he  was  so 
urgent  in  his  beseeching.  So  the  young  man  got 
his  father's  blessing,  chose  a  horse  for  himself,  and 
started  on  his  journey,  not  knowing  at  all  what  way 
it  would  take  him. 

As  he  rode  along,  far  and  near,  high  and  low  — 
and  so  quickly  that  it  is  more  easily  said  than  done 
— he  came  at  last  to  a  bare  field,  to  green  meadows. 
And  in  the  bare  field  stood  a  stone  monument,  and 
on  the  monument  were  inscribed  these  words: 


IVAN  AND   THE   GRAY  WOLF        51 

WHOEVER  COMES   STRAIGHT  UP  TO  THIS  MONUMENT 

WILL  BE  COLD  AND  HUNGRY 

WHOEVER  COMES  UP  TO  THE  RIGHT  SIDE 

WILL  HAVE  HEALTH  AND  WEALTH 

BUT  HIS  HORSE  WILL  DD3 

AND  WHOEVER  COMES  UP  TO  THE  LEFT  SIDE 

WILL  BE   HIMSELF  KILLED 

BUT  HIS  HORSE  WILL  BE  LEFT  ALIVE  AND  WELL. 

Prince  Ivan  read  this  inscription  and  went  up  to 
the  monument  by  the  right  side,  having  this  in  his 
mind :  that  though  his  horse  would  be  killed,  still 
he  himself  would  be  left  alive. 

At  first  nothing  happened,  and  he  rode  on  one 
day,  two  days,  three  days,  when  suddenly  there 
came  running  up  to  meet  him  an  enormous  Gray 
Wolf,  who  said:  "Oho,  young  man,  Prince  Ivan, 
did  n't  you  read  what  was  inscribed  on  the  monu- 
ment %  —  that  your  horse  would  be  killed  ?  Why 
then  did  you  come  this  way?" 

The  Gray  Wolf  uttered  these  words,  then  he  tore 
Prince  Ivan's  horse  in  two  and  went  off  to  one  side. 

Prince  Ivan  wept  bitterly  for  his  horse,  but  he 
pushed  ahead  on  foot.  He  walked  a  whole  day 
and  was  unspeakably  weary,  and  was  just  thinking 
about  sitting  down  to  rest,  when  suddenly  the  Gray 
Wolf  overtook  him  and  said  to  him : 

"I  am  sorry  for  you,  Prince  Ivan,  because  you 
are  so  tired  walking.    Good !    Get  on  my  back,  on 


52         IVAN   AND  THE  GRAY   WOLF 

the  Gray  Wolf's  back,  and  tell  me  where  you 
want  to  go  and  why !  " 

Ivan  told  the  Gray  Wolf  where  he  wanted  to  go, 
and  the  Gray  Wolf  galloped  off  with  him  faster 
than  the  horse,  and  after  some  time,  toward 
nightfall,  he  brought  him  to  a  stone  wall  not  so 
very  high,  and  there  the  Wolf  stopped  and  said : 

"  Now,  Prince  Ivan,  get  down  from  my  back,  from 
the  Gray  Wolf's  back,  and  climb  over  this  stone 
wall.  There  on  the  other  side  of  the  stone  wall 
is  a  garden,  and  in  that  garden  sits  the  Magic 
Bird  in  a  golden  cage.  You  may  take  the  bird, 
but  do  not  touch  the  cage.  If  you  do  they  will 
seize  you  instantly." 

Prince  Ivan  climbed  over  the  wall  into  the  garden, 
and  there  he  saw  the  Magic  Bird  in  a  golden  cage, 
and  he  was  greatly  charmed  by  her.  He  took  the 
bird  out  of  the  cage  and  started  back,  but  then  he 
recollected  himself  and  said  in  his  heart : 

"Here  I  have  taken  the  Magic  Bird,  but  what 
have  I  got  to  put  her  in  1 " 

So  he  returned  on  his  steps ;  but  hardly  had  he 
taken  up  the  golden  cage  ere  there  was  a  sudden 
noise  and  commotion  throughout  the  whole  garden, 
because  strings  were  attached  to  the  golden  cage. 
The  guards  instantly  woke  up  and  came  running 


IVAN  AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF         53 

into  the  garden,  and  they  seized  Prince  Ivan  with 
the  bird  and  carried  him  off  to  the  Tsar,  whose 
name  was  Dolmat. 

Tsar  Dolmat  was  to  the  last  degree  wroth  with 
Prince  Ivan  and  roared  at  him  in  a  thunderous 
angry  voice :  "Young  man,  are  n't  you  ashamed  for 
being  a  thief?  Now  who  are  you,  and  of  what 
country,  and  who  is  your  father,  and  what  is  your 
name  1 " 

Prince  Ivan  answered  him,  saying:  "I  am  the 
son  of  Tsar  Vuislaf,  and  they  call  me  Ivan.  Your 
Magic  Bird  used  to  fly  every  night  into  our 
garden  and  rob  my  dear  father's  favourite  apple- 
tree  of  its  golden  apples,  and  so  my  father  sent  me 
off  to  capture  the  bird  and  bring  her  to  him." 

"Oho,  young  man,  Prince  Ivan,"  replied  the 
Tsar  Dolmat.  "Do  you  think  it  was  a  pretty  way 
to  do  as  you  did  %  If  you  had  come  to  me,  I  would 
have  given  you  the  Magic  Bird  honourably.  But 
now  wouldn't  it  be  well  for  me  to  send  out  and 
proclaim  to  all  nations  how  dishonourably  you 
have  acted  in  my  realm  %  However,  go  forth,  Prince 
Ivan,  if  you  would  do  me  a  service.  If  you  will 
proceed  to  the  thirtieth  realm  beyond  the  thrice- 
ninth  kingdom  and  get  Tsar  Afron's  gold-maned 
horse  for  me,  then  I  will  forgive  you  your  crime, 


54        IVAN   AND  THE   GRAY   WOLF 

and  I  will  present  the  Magic  Bird  to  you  as  a 
great  mark  of  honour." 

Prince  Ivan  was  very  downcast  and  went  from 
Tsar  Dolmat  to  the  Gray  Wolf  and  told  him  all 
that  Tsar  Dolmat  had  said.  "Oho,  young  man, 
Prince  Ivan,"  replied  the  Gray  Wolf,  "  why  did  you 
not  heed  my  words  and  let  the  gold  cage  alone?" 

"I  am  to  blame  before  you !"  said  Prince  Ivan  to 
the  Wolf. 

"All  right,  be  it  so!"  replied  the  Gray  Wolf. 
"  Sit  on  my  back,  on  the  Gray  Wolf's  back;  I  will 
take  you  where  you  have  to  go." 

Prince  Ivan  got  on  the  Gray  Wolf's  back,  and 
the  Wolf  ran  as  fast  as  an  arrow  flies,  and  how  long 
he  ran  one  cannot  tell;  but  at  last  he  came  by 
night  to  the  realm  of  Tsar  Afron.  As  they  came 
up  to  the  Tsar's  white  marble  stables  the  Gray 
Wolf  said  to  Prince  Ivan : 

"Make  your  way  into  these  marble  stables, 
Prince  Ivan,  and  take  the  horse  of  the  golden 
mane.  But  there  is  hanging  on  the  wall  a  golden 
bridle :  do  not  touch  it,  or  you  will  get  yourself  into 
trouble." 

Prince  Ivan,  making  his  way  into  the  white 
marble  stables,  took  the  horse,  and  started  to  go 
away  again;  but  he  saw  the  golden  bridle  hanging 


IVAN  AND  THE  GRAY  WOLF    55 

on  the  wall,  and  it  pleased  him  so  much  that  he 
took  it  down  from  the  nail.  But  no  sooner  had 
he  touched  it  than  there  came  a  rumble  and  a 
commotion  throughout  all  the  stables,  because 
strings  were  attached  to  that  bridle. 

The  stableguards  came  running  in,  and  they 
seized  Prince  Ivan  and  took  him  to  Tsar  Afron. 
In  a  rage  Tsar  Afron  began  to  ply  him  with 
questions : 

"  Oho,  you  are  a  fine  young  man !  Tell  me  from 
what  country  you  come,  and  who  is  your  father, 
and  what  is  your  name  !  " 

To  these  questions  Prince  Ivan  replied :  "I  am 
the  son  of  the  Tsar  Vuislaf,  and  they  call  me  Ivan ! " 

"  Oho,  young  man,  Prince  Ivan,"  said  Tsar 
Afron,  "  is  this  the  deed  of  an  honourable  knight  1 
If  you  had  come  to  me,  I  would  have  given  you 
the  gold-maned  horse  with  all  honour.  But  now 
would  it  not  be  well  for  me  to  send  out  and  proclaim 
to  all  nations  what  a  dishonourable  thing  you  have 
done  in  my  realm'?  However,  go  forth,  Prince  Ivan, 
if  you  would  do  me  service.  Go  to  the  thrice-ninth 
kingdom  from  here,  to  the  thirtieth  realm,  and  get 
for  me  Queen  Helena  the  Beautiful,  whom  I  have 
long  loved  with  all  my  heart  and  all  my  soul,  but 
cannot  reach ;  then  J  will  forgive  you  your  crime 


56         IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF 

and  I  will  present  you  with  the  gold-rnaned 
horse  and  the  golden  bridle  with  all  honour.  But 
if  you  do  not  do  me  this  service,  then  I  will 
proclaim  it  abroad  to  all  the  nations  that  you  are 
a  dishonourable  thief." 

Prince  Ivan  went  away  from  the  palace  and 
wept  bitterly.  He  came  to  the  Gray  Wolf  and 
told  him  what  had  happened  to  him. 

"Oho,  you  are  a  fine  young  man,  Prince  Ivan!" 
exclaimed  the  Gray  Wolf.  "  Why  did  you  disobey 
my  word  and  take  the  golden  bridle  ?  " 

"  I  am  to  blame  before  you ! "  said  Prince  Ivan 
to  the  Wolf. 

"Very  good,  so  be  it!"  continued  the  Gray 
Wolf.  "  Mount  on  my  back,  on  the  Gray  Wolf's 
back ;  I  will  take  you  where  you  want  to  go." 

Prince  Ivan  mounted  on  the  Gray  Wolf's  back, 
and  the  Wolf  ran  as  swiftly  as  an  arrow,  and  at 
last  he  came  to  the  realm  of  Queen  Helena  the 
Beautiful,  to  the  golden  streamlet  which  bordered 
a  magical  garden ;  and  the  Gray  Wolf  said  to 
Prince  Ivan  : 

"Now,  Prince  Ivan,  dismount  from  me,  from 
the  Gray  Wolf,  and  go  back  along  the  same  road 
and  wait  for  me  in  the  open  field  under  the  green 
oak." 


IVAN  AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF        57 

Prince  Ivan  went  back  whither  he  was  bidden. 
The  Gray  Wolf  sat  down  near  the  golden  streamlet 
and  waited  until  Queen  Helena  the  Beautiful  came 
down  to  walk  in  her  garden. 

Toward  evening,  when  the  dear  sun  was  begin- 
ning to  drop  very  near  to  the  west,  Queen  Helena 
the  Beautiful  came  to  walk  in  the  garden  with  her 
maidens  and  nobles.  When  she  came  close  to  the 
very  place  where  the  Gray  Wolf  was  sitting,  behind 
the  streamlet,  the  Gray  Wolf  suddenly  sprang 
across  the  streamlet  into  the  garden,  and  seizing 
Queen  Helena  the  Beautiful,  sprang  back  again  and 
galloped  off  with  her  with  all  his  might  and  main. 

He  galloped  up  to  the  open  field,  where  Prince 
Ivan  was  waiting  under  the  green  oak,  and  said 
to  him :  "  Prince  Ivan,  get  on  my  back,  on  the  Gray 
Wolf's  back,  as  quickly  as  possible." 

Prince  Ivan  mounted  on  his  back,  and  the 
Gray  Wolf  carried  them  both  to  Tsar  Afron's  realm. 
The  maidens  and  nobles  of  Queen  Helena's  court 
ran  all  about  and  sent  out  hi  pursuit  of  them,  but 
none  of  all  the  messengers  was  able  to  overtake  the 
Gray  Wolf,  and  so  they  had  to  go  back  home. 

Prince  Ivan,  as  he  sat  on  the  Gray  Wolf's  back 
with  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena,  fell  over  head 
and  ears  in  love  with  her,  and  she  with  him,  and 


58         IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF 

when  the  Gray  Wolf  came  galloping  into  Tsar 
Afron's  realm  the  prince  was  utterly  dejected  and 
began  to  weep  tearfully. 

The  Gray  Wolf  asked  him :  "  What  are  you 
weeping  about,  Prince  Ivan  1  " 

And  in  reply  Prince  Ivan  said  to  him :  "  My 
friend  Gray  Wolf,  how  can  I  help  weeping  and 
help  feeling  dejected  1  I  have  fallen  over  head  and 
ears  in  love  with  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena  and 
now  I  must  give  her  up  to  Tsar  Afron  in  exchange 
for  the  gold-maned  horse;  and  if  I  don't  give 
her  up  to  him,  then  Tsar  Afron  will  proclaim  me 
dishonourable  to  all  the  nations." 

"I  have  served  you  greatly,  Prince  Ivan,"  said 
the  Gray  Wolf,  "but  I  will  serve  you  in  this  service 
also.  Listen,  Prince  Ivan !  I  will  take  the  form 
of  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena,  and  you  must  give 
me  to  Tsar  Afron  and  take  the  gold-maned  horse. 
He  will  regard  me  as  the  real  queen.  And  when 
you  have  mounted  the  gold-maned  horse  and  have 
gone  far,  far  away,  then  I  will  ask  Tsar  Afron  to 
go  and  take  a  walk  hi  the  open  field.  And  as 
soon  as  he  lets  me  go  with  the  maidens  and  nobles 
of  the  court,  and  I  am  with  them  in  the  open  field, 
then  do  you  call  me  to  mind  and  I  will  be  with 
you  again." 


Prince  Ivan  came  with  the  pretended  Helena 


IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF         59 

When  the  Gray  Wolf  had  uttered  this  speech 
he  knocked  against  the  damp  earth  and  was 
changed  into  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena.  Prince 
Ivan  took  the  Gray  Wolf  and  went  to  Tsar  Afron's 
court,  and  he  bade  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena 
herself  to  wait  for  him  behind  the  city.  When 
Prince  Ivan  came  to  Tsar  Afron  with  the  pretended 
Helena,  the  Tsar  was  perfectly  delighted  in  his 
heart  because  he  had  come  into  possession  of  the 
treasure  that  he  had  been  desiring  so  long,  and 
he  handed  over  to  Prince  Ivan  the  horse  of  the 
golden  mane. 

Prince  Ivan  mounted  this  horse  and  rode  off 
outside  the  city.  There  he  took  Helena  the 
Beautiful  on  with  him  and  rode  away,  keeping  to 
the  road  that  led  to  the  realm  of  Tsar  Dolmat. 
The  Gray  Wolf  lived  with  Tsar  Afron  one 
day,  a  second  day,  and  then  a  third  day,  in  the 
place  of  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena;  but  on 
the  fourth  day  she  went  to  Tsar  Afron  and  asked 
permission  to  go  to  walk  in  the  open  field  in 
order  to  drive  away  the  terrible  homesickness 
that  tormented  her. 

How  loud  did  Tsar  Afron  swear:  "Ah!  my 
beautiful  Queen  Helena,  I  will  do  everything  for 
you!"      And    hnmediately    he    commanded    the 


60         IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY    WOLF 

maidens  and  all  the  nobles  of  his  court  to  accom- 
pany the  beautiful  queen  into  the  open  field. 

Meantime  Prince  Ivan  had  been  on  his  way  with 
the  real  Helena,  and  was  talking  with  her,  and  he 
forgot  all  about  the  Gray  Wolf,  when  suddenly  he 
remembered:  "Ah,  where  is  my  Gray  Wolf?" 

And  instantly  arriving  from  somewhere  the 
Gray  Wolf  stood  before  Prince  Ivan  and  said  to 
him:  "Mount  me,  Prince  Ivan,  mount  the  Gray 
Wolf,  and  let  the  beautiful  queen  ride  on  the 
gold-maned  horse." 

Prince  Ivan  mounted  the  Gray  Wolf,  and  they 
rode  together  to  Tsar  Dolmat's  realm.  How  long 
they  rode  no  one  knows,  but  when  they  reached 
that  realm  they  stopped  three  miles  from  the  city. 
Prince  Ivan  began  to  ask  the  Gray  Wolf: 

"  Listen,  my  dear  friend,  Gray  Wolf,  you  have 
done  me  many  a  service.  Serve  me  in  this  last 
affair  also.  Couldn't  you  turn  into  the  gold- 
maned  horse  ?  Because  it  seems  to  me  as  if  I 
could  not  part  with  this  gold-maned  horse ! " 

Suddenly  the  Gray  Wolf  struck  the  moist  earth 
and  turned  into  a  gold-maned  horse.  Prince 
Ivan  left  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena  in  a  green 
meadow  with  the  real  horse,  mounted  the  Gray 
Wolf,  and  rode  to  the  palace,  to  Tsar  Dolmat. 


IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF         61 

And'  as  soon  as  he  got  there,  Tsar  Dolmat 
recognised  Prince  Ivan  coming  on  the  gold- 
maned  horse.  He  immediately  rushed  out  of 
his  palace,  met  the  prince  in  his  wide  court, 
kissed  him  on  his  mouth,  took  him  by  the 
right  hand,  and  led  him  into  his  white  marble 
palace. 

Tsar  Dolmat  in  return  for  such  a  pleasure 
ordered  a  great  feast  prepared,  and  they  took 
their  places  at  the  oaken  tables,  at  the  checked 
linen  tablecloth.  They  ate,  drank,  and  made 
merry,  and  thus  feasted  for  two  days,  and  on  the 
third  day  Tsar  Dolmat  rewarded  Prince  Ivan  with 
the  Magic  Bird  and  the  golden  cage. 

The  prince  took  the  Magic  Bird,  went  out  of 
the  city,  sat  on  the  gold-maned  horse,  together 
with  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena,  and  rode  toward 
his  own  fatherland.  Now  Tsar  Dolmat,  on  the 
following  day,  determined  to  ride  his  gold-maned 
horse  in  the  open  field,  and  he  had  hardly  spurred 
up  the  horse  when  it  threw  him,  and  again  be- 
coming the  Gray  Wolf  galloped  off  and  overtook 
Prince  Ivan. 

"Prince  Ivan!"  he  cried.  "Mount  me,  the 
Gray  Wolf,  and  let  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena 
ride  on  the  gold-maned  horse." 


62    IVAN  AND  THE  GRAY  WOLF 

Prince  Ivan  mounted  the  Gray  Wolf,  and  they 
proceeded  on  their  way.  As  soon  as  the  Gray 
Wolf  had  brought  Prince  Ivan  to  the  place  where 
he  had  torn  the  horse  to  pieces  he  stopped  and 
said : 

"Now,  Prince  Ivan,  I  have  served  you  with 
ample  faith  and  truth.  Here  in  this  place  I  tore 
your  horse  in  two,  and  I  have  brought  you  back 
to  this  very  place.  Dismount  from  me,  from  the 
Gray  Wolf.  Now  you  have  a  gold-maned  horse 
and  I  will  no  longer  be  your  servant." 

The  Gray  Wolf  spoke  these  words  and  galloped 
off  to  one  side,  and  Prince  Ivan  wept  bitterly  at 
parting  with  the  Gray  Wolf,  but  he  rode  on  his 
way  with  the  beautiful  queen.  How  long  he  rode 
with  Helena  on  the  gold-maned  horse  it  were 
hard  to  say,  but  when  he  came  within  twenty 
miles  of  his  own  realm,  he  stopped,  dismounted, 
and  sat  down  with  the  beautiful  queen  to  rest 
under  a  tree.  He  fastened  the  gold-maned 
horse  to  the  same  tree,  and  set  the  cage  and  the 
Magic  Bird  in  its  golden  cage  and  the  golden 
bridle  near  him.  And  as  they  rested  on  the  soft 
turf  and  talked  together  they  fell  asleep ;  and  just 
at  that  time  Prince  Ivan's  brothers,  Prince  Dimitri 
and  Prince  Vasili,  coming   from  different  lands, 


IVAN  AND  THE  GRAY  WOLF    6'3 

and  without  having  succeeded  in  finding  the 
Magic  Bird,  happened  to  be  returning  to  their 
fatherland  empty-handed.  And  by  chance  they 
came  upon  their  brother  Prince  Ivan  asleep. 
When  they  caught  sight  of  the  gold-maned  horse 
on  the  turf  and  the  Magic  Bird  in  its  golden  cage, 
they  were  covetous  of  them,  and  they  conceived 
the  idea  of  killing  their  brother.  Prince  Dimitri 
unsheathed  his  sword  and  ran  it  through  Prince 
Ivan.  Then  he  aroused  the  beautiful  Queen 
Helena  and  began  to  ply  her  with  questions. 

"Beautiful  girl!  from  what  country  do  you 
come  and  who  is  your  father,  and  what  is  your 
name  1 " 

The  beautiful  queen,  seeing  Ivan  lying  dead, 
was  terribly  frightened,  and  amid  bitter  tears 
replied :   '""" 

"I  am  Queen  Helena.  Prince  Ivan,  whom  ye 
have  done  to  a  cruel  death,  came  and  got  me. 
Ye  would  have  been  good  brothers-in-law  if  ye 
had  come  with  him  into  the  open  field,  and  beaten 
him  in  fair  fight;  but  now  ye  have  killed  him 
while  he  was  asleep,  and  what  advantage  will  ye 
receive  from  such  a  deed  ?  " 

At  this  Prince  Dimitri  pointed  his  sword  at  the 
beautiful  Queen  Helena's  heart  and  said  to  her : 


64         IVAN   AND  THE   GRAY  WOLF 

"Listen,  Helena!  You  are  now  in  our  hands; 
we  are  going  to  take  you  to  our  sire,  Tsar  Vuislaf, 
and  see  to  it  that  you  tell  him  that  it  was  we 
who  got  you  and  the  Magic  Bird  and  the  gold- 
maned  horse.  If  you  fail  to  tell  hirn  this,  we 
shall  instantly  put  you  to  death !  " 

Helena,  frightened  out  of  her  wits,  agreed  to 
this,  and  promised  that  she  would  say  what  they 
bade  her  say. 

Then  Prince  Dimitri  and  Prince  Vasili  began  to 
draw  lots  for  the  beautiful  Queen  Helena  and  the 
gold-maned  horse.  And  according  to  the  lot  the 
queen  fell  to  Prince  Vasili,  and  the  gold-maned 
horse  to  Prince  Dimitri ;  and  away  they  went  to 
the  city. 

Prince  Ivan  lay  dead  in  that  place  for  thirty 
days,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the  Gray  Wolf 
came  running  up  to  him  and  recognised  by  the 
scent  that  it  was  Prince  Ivan.  He  wanted  to 
bring  him  to  life  again,  but  he  did  not  know  how 
to  do  it.  Just  then  the  Gray  Wolf  saw  an  old 
raven  and  two  young  ones  flying  over  the  body, 
and  they  were  about  to  alight  and  devour  Prince 
Ivan's  flesh. 

The  Gray  Wolf  sprang  behind  a  bush,  and  as 
soon  as  the  young  ravens  had   alighted  on  the 


IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF        65 

ground  and  began  to  peck  at  Prince  Ivan's  body, 
lie  leaped  out,  seized  one  of  the  young  ravens, 
and  was  going  to  tear  it  to  pieces. 

Then  the  old  raven  flew  down  to  the  ground, 
lighted  not  far  from  the  Gray  Wolf,  and  said  to 
him:  "  Oho  there,  you  Gray  Wolf!  Do  not  touch 
my  little  birdling;  he  has  never  done  anything 
to  you." 

"  Listen,  then,  Eaven !  "  replied  the  Gray  Wolf. 
"  I  will  not  touch  your  little  birdling  if  you  will 
serve  me  in  a  service.  Fly  away  beyond  the 
thrice-nine  lands,  to  the  thirtieth  kingdom,  and 
bring  me  the  Water  of  Life  and  the  Water  of 
Death." 

At  this  the  raven  said  to  the  Gray  Wolf:  "  I  will 
serve  you  in  this  matter,  only  don't  touch  my  son!" 

These  words  said  the  raven,  and  flew  away. 

On  the  third  day  he  came  flying  back  and  with 
him  he  brought  two  vials ;  in  one  the  Water  of 
Life,  and  in  the  other  the  Water  of  Death,  and  he 
gave  the  vials  to  the  Gray  Wolf.  The  Gray  Wrolf 
took  the  vials,  tore  the  little  raven  to  pieces, 
sprinkled  it  with  the  Water  of  Death  and  instantly 
the  young  raven  grew  together  again ;  he  sprin- 
kled it  with  the  Water  of  Life,  the  little  raven 
spread  its  wings  and  flew  off. 


66         IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY   WOLF 

Then  the  Gray  Wolf  sprinkled  the  Water  of 
Death  over  Prince  Ivan;  his  dead  body  grew 
whole  again.  He  sprinkled  him  with  the  Water 
of  Life  ;  Prince  Ivan  got  to  his  feet  and  demanded : 
"  Have  I  been  asleep  long  ?  " 

In  reply  the  Gray  Wolf  said  to  him:  "Yes, 
Prince  Ivan,  you  would  have  slept  an  eternity  if 
it  had  not  been  for  me.  You  see  your  brothers 
killed  you,  and  took  for  themselves  the  beautiful 
Queen  Helena  and  the  gold-maned  horse  and 
the  Magic  Bird.  Now  make  haste  as  quickly  as 
possible  to  your  home.  Your  brother  Vasili  is 
going  to  marry  your  bride  to-day — the  beautiful 
Queen  Helena.  And  in  order  that  you  may  get 
there  as  quickly  as  possible,  you  had  better  mount 
me  —  mount  the  Gray  Wolf;  I  will  take  you 
home." 

Prince  Ivan  mounted,  the  Gray  Wolf  galloped 
with  him  to  the  realm  of  the  Tsar  Vuislaf,  and 
after  he  had  been  a  long  or  short  time  on  the  way 
he  took  him  to  the  city.  Prince  Ivan  dismounted 
from  the  Gray  Wolf,  hurried  into  the  city,  and 
going  to  the  palace  he  learned  that  his  brother 
Prince  Vasili  had  returned  with  the  queen  from 
the  wedding  ceremony  and  was  sitting  at  table. 

Then   Helena    the    beautiful    caught    sight   of 


IVAN   AND   THE   GRAY  WOLF        67 

Prince  Ivan  and  instantly  sprang  from  the  table 
and  began  to  kiss  his  lips  crying: 

"  This  is  my  darling  husband,  Prince  Ivan,  and 
not  that  wicked  wretch  who  is  sitting  at  table! " 

Then  the  Tsar  got  up  from  his  place  and  began 
to  question  her  as  to  the  meaning  of  all  this. 
And  Helena  told  him  all  the  truth  in  regard  to 
what  had  taken  place. 

Tsar  Vuislaf  was  bitterly  indignant  with  Prince 
Dimitri  and  Prince  Vasili,  and  sent  them  to  jail. 
But  Prince  Ivan  married  the  beautiful  Queen 
Helena,  and  lived  with  her  so  lovingly  that 
neither  one  could  endure  to  exist  a  single  instant 
without  the  other. 


VASILISA  THE  BEAUTY 


VASILISA  THE  BEAUTY 


|NCE  in  a  certain  country  lived  a 
merchant.  He  had  been  married 
twelve  years  and  had  only  one  child, 
a  daughter  Vasilisa,  whom  everyone 
called  Vasilisa  the  Beauty.  When 
her  mother  died  the  little  girl  was  eight  years  old. 
On  her  deathbed  she  called  her  young  daughter  to 
her,  took  out  from  under  the  bedclothes  a  Doll, 
gave  it  to  her,  and  said : 

"  Listen,  dear  little  Vasilisa !  Remember  and  fulfil 
my  last  words.  I  am  dying  and  I  leave  you,  with 
a  mother's  blessing,  this  Doll.  Keep  it  always  with 
you  and  show  it  to  no  one,  and  whenever  any  mis- 
fortune happens  to  you  give  it  something  to  eat 
and  ask  its  advice."  Thereupon  the  mother  kissed 
her  little  daughter  and  died. 

The  merchant,  after  his  wife's  death,  mourned  as 
long  as  was  reasonable,  and  then  began  to  think 
about  getting  married  again.  He  was  a  good,  sen- 
sible man  and  did  not  concern  himself  with  the 
maidens,  but  best  of  all  he  liked  a  certain  young 


74  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

widow.  She  knew  about  children,  had  two  daugh- 
ters of  her  own  about  the  same  age  as  Vasilisa, 
and,  of  course,  could  keep  house  and  do  all  that  a 
mother  should  do. 

The  merchant  married  the  widow,  but  he  made 
a  mistake :  he  did  not  find  in  her  a  good  mother 
for  his  child.  Vasilisa  was  the  prettiest  girl  in  the 
whole  village,  and  the  stepmother  and  the  step- 
sisters were  envious  of  her  beauty.  They  treated 
her  cruelly  and  made  her  do  impossible  tasks,  so 
that  she  might  grow  thin  under  the  burden  and 
her  complexion  might  turn  dark  under  the  wind 
and  sun.     Indeed,  it  was  no  life  at  all  for  her ! 

But  Vasilisa  bore  it  uncomplainingly,  and  every 
day  she  grew  more  beautiful  and  plump  than  ever, 
while  her  stepmother  and  stepsisters  grew  uglier 
and  thinner  from  ill-temper,  in  spite  of  the  fact 
that  they  never  did  anything  but  sit  round  with 
folded  hands  like  fine  ladies.  How  did  this 
happen  ? 

Vasilisa's  Doll  helped  her.  Had  it  not  been  for 
that  the  poor  girl  could  not  have  stood  so  much 
work. 

Vasilisa  did  not  eat  the  daintiest  morsels  of  her 
scanty  fare,  but  she  used  to  put  them  aside  for  her 
little  Doll,  and  in  the  evening  when  the  rest  had 


VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY  75 

gone  to  bed  she  would  shut  herself  into  her  little 
room  and  give  it  the  good  things,  saying: 

"Here,  little  Doll,  eat  something  and  listen  to 
my  tale  of  woe !  Here  I  live  in  my  papa's  house, 
but  I  do  not  get  any  pleasure  out  of  it.  My  wicked 
stepmother  is  trying  to  drive  me  out  of  the  bright 
world.  Teach  me!  How  must  I  behave  and 
what  must  I  do  i  " 

The  Doll  would  eat  a  little  and  then  give  her 
good  advice  and  console  her  for  her  sorrow,  and 
before  morning  came  it  would  finish  every  one  of 
Vasilisa's  tasks.  While  she  was  resting  in  the  cool 
air  or  gathering  flowers,  the  beds  were  weeded  for 
her,  the  cabbages  watered,  the  pails  filled,  and  the 
fire  made.  The  Doll  also  taught  her  how  to  avoid 
sunburn.     It  was  fine  to  live  with  the  Doll ! 

Several  years  passed.  Vasilisa  had  grown  up  into 
a  beautiful  maiden.  All  the  young  men  in  town 
sought  her,  though  not  one  of  them  would  so  much 
as  look  at  her  stepsisters.  The  stepmother  was 
crosser  than  ever  and  replied  to  all  the  suitors: 
"We  will  not  give  the  youngest  one  before  the 
older  ones." 

And  as  soon  as  she  had  sent  the  suitors  away  she 
would  vent  her  spite  on  Vasilisa  with  blows. 

Now  it  happened  that  the  merchant  was  obliged 


76  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

to  go  away  from  home  for  a  long  time  on  important 
business.  The  stepmother  went  to  live  in  another 
house  which  stood  near  a  dense  forest,  and  in  this 
was  a  hut  where  Baba  Yaga  the  Witch  dwelt.  She 
was  a  wicked  hag  who  never  permitted  any  person 
to  approach  her,  and  she  ate  men  like  chickens. 

Having  settled  in  her  new  home,  the  merchant's 
wife  kept  inventing  pretexts  to  send  the  detested 
Vasilisa  into  the  forest,  but  the  girl  always  came 
back  without  accident.  The  Doll  showed  her  the 
way  and  did  not  let  her  go  near  the  Baba  Yaga's  hut. 

Autumn  came.  The  stepmother  one  time  gave 
the  three  girls  their  evening's  work  to  do:  she 
bade  one  to  make  woven  lace,  and  the  second  to  knit 
stockings,  but  she  set  Vasilisa  to  spinning.  She 
put  out  the  lights  throughout  the  house  and  left 
only  one  little  candle  where  the  girls  were  working, 
and  she  herself  went  to  bed.  While  the  girls  were 
working  the  candle  began  to  gutter.  One  of  the 
girls  took  the  snuffers  to  trim  the  wick,  but  instead 
of  doing  so  she  followed  her  mother's  directions 
and,  as  if  accidentally,  put  out  the  candle. 

"  Now  what  are  we  going  to  do  ?  "  asked  the  girls. 
"  There  is  not  a  light  in  the  whole  house  and  our 
stints  are  not  finished !  We  must  go  to  the  Baba 
Yaga  after  a  light." 


VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY  77 

"  I  have  all  the  lights!  want  from  my  bosom- 
pin,"  said  the  one  who  was'%orking  on  the  lace;  "  I 
won't  go."  ^ 

"And  I  won't  go,"  said  the  one  who  was  knitting 
stockings;  "I  have  enough  light  from  my  knit- 
ting needles." 

"  Vasilisa  must  go  after  the  light,"  cried  both  of 
them.  "Hurry  to  Baba  Yaga  the  Witch  and  get 
it ! "     And  they  drove  her  out  of  the  roorn. 

Vasilisa  went  into  her  little  room,  set  before  her 
Doll  the  supper  that  she  had  saved  for  her,  and  said : 

"  Now,  Dollie,  take  your  supper  and  listen  to  my 
tale  of  woe.  They  are  sending  me  to  the  Baba  Yaga 
after  fire,  and  the  Baba  Yaga  will  eat  me ! " 

The  Doll  ate  the  food  and  her  eyes  gleamed  like 
two  candles.  "Do  not  be  afraid,  little  Vasilisa," 
she  said.  "Go  whither  they  send  you;  only  keep 
me  always  with  you.  When  you  have  me  you 
have  nothing  to  fear  at  the  Witch's  hut." 

So  Vasilisa  made  haste,  hid  the  Doll  in  her 
pocket,  and  having  crossed  herself  went  into  the 
dense  forest.  As  she  went  along  tremblingly  a 
horseman  suddenly  galloped  past  her.  He  was 
white,  his  dress  was  white,  the  horse  he  rode  was 
white,  and  the  horse's  trappings  were  white.  Out- 
doors it  began  to  grow  light. 


78  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

She  walked  farther,  and  another  horseman  gal- 
loped past.  He  was  red,  his  clothing  was  red,  and 
he  rode  a  red  horse.     The  sun  began  to  rise. 

Vasilisa  walked  all  night  and  all  day,  and  only 
toward  the  next  evening  did  she  reach  the  clear- 
ing where  stood  the  Baba  Yaga's  hut.  The  fence 
around  the  hut  was  of  men's  bones,  and  the  posts 
were  decorated  with  human  skulls.  Instead  of 
door-posts  were  men's  leg-bones ;  instead  of  shut- 
ters were  arms;  instead  of  a  lock  was  a  mouth 
with  sharp  teeth. 

Vasilisa  was  benumbed  with  terror  and  stood  as 
if  rooted  to  the  spot.  Suddenly  another  horse- 
man came  riding  along.  He  was  black,  his  cloth- 
ing was  black,  and  he  rode  a  black  horse.  He 
galloped  up  to  the  Baba  Yaga's  gates  and  dis- 
appeared as  if  he  had  sunk  through  the  earth. 
Night  had  come.  But  the  darkness  did  not  last 
long.  In  the  skulls  on  the  fence  the  eyes  gleamed, 
and  it  was  as  light  as  noon  all  over  the  clearing. 
Vasilisa  shook  with  terror,  but  not  knowing 
where  to  run  she  remained  where  she  was. 

Soon  a  terrible  noise  was  heard  in  the  forest.  The 
trees  trembled  and  the  dry  leaves  rustled.  It  was 
the  Baba  Yaga  coming.  She  stormed  along  in  a 
mortar,  she  whipped  it  up  with  her   pestle,   she 


A  horseman  suddenly  galloped  past  her 


VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY  79 

swept  away  the  tracks  with  her  besom.  She  came 
up  to  the  gates,  paused,  and  sniffing  all  around 
cried  out:  "Fu!  fu!  fu!  I  smell  Eussian  breath! 
Who  is  here?" 

Vasilisa  approached  the  old  dame  with  fear  and 
trembling,  and  bowing  low  said :  "It  is  I,  grannie. 
My  stepmother's  daughters  sent  me  to  you  to  get 
some  fire." 

"Good!"  exclaimed  the  Baba  Yaga.  "I  know 
them.  Live  on,  and  do  some  work  for  me  and 
then  I  will  give  you  some  fire ;  but  if  you  do  not 
do  it,  then  I  will  eat  you  up." 

She  turned  to  the  gates  and  cried  :  "  Hey !  my 
strong  fence  give  way !    Oh  my  high  gates  open ! " 

The  gates  opened  and  the  Baba  Yaga  went  in,  and 
Vasilisa  followed  her,  and  then  all  was  closed  tight 
again.  As  soon  as  she  entered  the  room  the  Baba 
Yaga  stretched  herself  out  and  said  to  Vasilisa : 
"Bring  me  here  what  is  on  the  stove;  I  want 
to  eat." 

Vasilisa  lighted  a  splinter  at  the  skulls'  eyes 
on  the  fence  and  began  to  take  down  the  food 
from  the  stove  and  give  it  to  the  Baba  Yaga. 
There  was  enough  for  ten  men.  From  the  cellar 
she  brought  bread  and  meat,  beer  and  wine.  The 
old  dame  ate  and  drank,  leaving  for  Vasilisa  only 


80  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

a  bit  of  soup,  a  crust  of  bread,  and  a  morsel  of 
roast  pig. 

Then  the  Baba  Yaga  lay  down  to  sleep,  saying : 
"  When  morning  comes  I  am  going  out.  Keep  your 
eyes  open,  clean  the  court,  sweep  the  hut,  get  the 
dinner,  prepare  the  bedclothes ;  then  go  into  the 
cornbin,  take  forty  bushels  of  wheat  and  clean  it 
of  fennel.  Have  all  this  completely  done,  or  I  will 
eat  you  up." 

After  giving  this  command  the  Baba  Yaga  be- 
gan to  snore.  Vasilisa  put  the  old  dame's  leavings 
before  the  Doll,  burst  into  tears,  and  said : 

"  Now  eat,  little  Doll,  and  listen  to  my  tale  of 
woeJ  The  Baba  Yaga  has  given  me  such  a  heavy 
task  to  perform,  and  she  threatens  to  eat  me  up  if 
it  is  not  all  accomplished.     Help  me !  " 

The  Doll  replied :  "  Fear  not,  Vasilisa.  Eat 
your  supper,  say  your  prayers,  and  go  to  sleep. 
Morning  is  wiser  than  Evening*." 

Vasilisa  did  so.  She  awoke  rather  early, 
but  the  Baba  Yaga  was  up  before  her  and  was 
looking  out  of  the  window ;  the  eyes  in  the 
skulls  were  growing  dim,  and  now  the  white 
horseman  galloped  by  and  it  became  quite  bright. 
The  Baba  Yaga  went  outdoors,  whistled,  and 
before  her   appeared  her  mortar  and  pestle    and 


VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY  81 

besom.  The  red  horseman  flashed  by  and  the 
sun  came  up. 

The  Baba  Yaga  got  into  her  mortar  and  started 
off.  She  spurred  it  on  with  the  pestle  and  swept 
away  the  traces  with  her  besom. 

Vasilisa  was  left  alone  and  she  began  to  inves- 
tigate the  Baba  Yaga's  house.  She  was  amazed  at 
the  abundance  of  everything,  and  she  could  not 
make  up  her  mind  which  task  she  would  take  hold 
of  first.  But  she  soon  discovered  that  her  work 
was  done  for  her  already.  The  Doll  was  just  sep- 
arating out  from  the  wheat  the  last  grains  of  the 
fennel. 

"  Oh,  you  are  my  dear  deliverer ! "  exclaimed 
Vasilisa.    "  You  have  saved  me  from  misfortune ! " 

"  All  that  is  left  for  you  to  do  is  to  get  dinner," 
replied  the  Doll,  climbing  into  Vasilisa's  pocket. 
"Get  it,  and  God  be  with  you;  but  now  take  a 
good  rest  for  your  health." 

Toward  evening  Vasilisa  laid  the  table  and 
waited  for  the  Baba  Yaga.  It  began  to  grow  dark. 
The  black  horseman  galloped  by  the  gates.  Then 
the  eyes  in  the  skulls  began  to  gleam.  The  trees 
trembled,  the  leaves  rustled  —  up  came  the  Baba 
Yaga.  Vasilisa  met  her.  "Is  your  work  all 
done?"  asked  the  hag. 


82  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

"  You  can  see  for  yourself,  grannie,"  replied 
Vasilisa. 

The  Baba  Yaga  looked  all  around,  and  became 
very  angry  because  there  was  nothing  to  be 
angry  about.  "  Very  good !  "  she  said  sullenly ; 
then  she  cried :  "  My  faithful  servants,  my  bosom 
friends,  grind  my  wheat  for  me!"  Instantly 
appeared  three  pairs  of  hands,  seized  the  wheat, 
and  carried  it  out  of  sight. 

The  Witch  ate  her  supper,  lay  down  to  sleep, 
and  again  gave  Vasilisa  her  orders. 

"  To-morrow  do  the  same  as  you  did  to-day ; 
but  above  all,  take  from  the  corncrib  the  poppy, 
and  clean  it  of  all  dirt  to  the  last  seed.  You  '11 
cause  trouble  for  someone  if  the  least  bit  of  earth 
is  mixed  with  the  poppy." 

Then  she  turned  her  face  to  the  wall  and  began 
to  snore  as  before. 

Vasilisa  gave  her  Doll  something  to  eat.  The 
Doll  ate  and  told  her  what  she  had  told  her  the 
evening  before :    $ 

"Pray  to  God  and  go  to  sleep;  Morning  is 
wiser  than  Evening ;  all  shall  be  done,  dear  little 
Vasilisa ! " 

In  the  morning  the  Baba  Yaga  again  flew  away 
in  her  mortar,  and  Vasilisa  and  the  Doll  quickly 


VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY  83 

accomplished  the  work  that  was  to  be  done. 
In  the  evening  the  old  hag  came  home,  inspected 
everything,  and  cried  out :  "  My  faithful  servants, 
my  bosom  friends,  make  some  oil  out  of  the 
poppy."  Three  pairs  of  hands  appeared,  seized 
the  poppy,  and  carried  it  out  of  sight.  The  Baba 
Yaga  sat  down  to  supper,  and  while  she  ate, 
Vasilisa  stood  by  in  silence. 

"  Why  don't  you  have  something  to  say  to 
me?"  asked  the  Witch;  "you  stand  there  like 
one  tongue-tied." 

"I  did  not  dare  to,"  said  Vasilisa;  "but  if  you 
will  allow  me,  I  should  like  to  ask  you  something." 

"  Ask  away !  Only  remember  —  not  every  ques- 
tion leads  to  good!  If  you  come  to  know  too 
much  you  will  quickly  grow  old." 

"  I  only  wanted  to  ask  you  about  what  I  saw, 
grannie.  As  I  was  coming  to  you  I  was  over- 
taken by  a  white  horseman  on  a  white  horse  in 
white  clothes.     Who  is  he  ? " 

"  That  is  my  bright  Day,"  said  the  Baba  Yaga. 

"  Then  I  was  overtaken  by  another  horseman 
on  a  red  horse.  He  was  red  and  in  red  clothes. 
Who  is  he?" 

"That  is  my  red  Sun,"  replied  the  Baba 
Yaga.  A 


84  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

"  And  what  was  the  meaning  of  the  black 
horseman  who  overtook  me  just  at  your  gates, 
grannie  ?  " 

"  That  was  my  black  Night.  All  are  my  faithful 
servants." 

Vasilisa  remembered  the  three  pairs  of  hands, 
but  said  nothing  more. 

"  Why  don't  you  ask  something  morel"  de- 
manded the  Baba  Yaga. 

"  I  am  afraid  of  what  you  said  might  happen  to 
me :  if  one  comes  to  know  too  much  one  grows 
old." 

"It  is  good,"  said  the  Baba  Yaga,  " that  you 
should  ask  only  about  what  you  have  seen  out  of 
doors  and  not  what  you  have  seen  in  the  house. 
I  do  not  like  people  to  tell  tales  about  me  out  of 
school,  and  I  eat  up  those  who  are  too  inquisitive ! 
And  now  I  am  going  to  put  a  question  to  you. 
How  did  you  succeed  in  doing  the  work  which  I 
gave  you  to  do  ?  " 

"  My  mother's  blessing  helped  me,"  replied 
Vasilisa. 

"  What  is  that  ?  Begone  from  me,  you  daughter- 
with-the-blessing !  I  don't  want  people  who  have 
been  blessed ! " 

And  she  dragged  Vasilisa  from  the  room  and 


VASTLISA    THE    BEAUTY  85 

pushed  her  out  of  the  gates.  Then  she  took 
down  from  the  fence  one  of  the  skulls  with  the 
lighted  eyes,  put  it  on  a  stick,  and  gave  it  to  her, 
saying :  "  Here  is  the  light  for  your  stepsisters. 
Take  it !     That  is  what  they  sent  you  here  for." 

Vasilisa  hastened  home  on  the  run,  by  the 
light  of  the  skull,  and  it  did  not  go  out  till  the 
next  morning.  At  last  toward  the  evening  of 
the  second  day  she  reached  her  home.  As  she 
went  through  the  gates  she  was  going  to  throw 
the  skull  away. 

"  Why,  of  course,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  they 
won't  need  the  light  now."  But  suddenly  she 
heard  a  quiet  voice  from  the  skull  saying:  "  Don't 
throw  me  away !     Take  me  to  your  stepmother." 

She  looked  up  at  her  stepmother's  house,  and 
not  seeing  a  light  in  any  window,  she  resolved 
to  go  in  with  the  skull.  The  first  persons  she 
met  spoke  kindly  to  her,  and  told  her  that  since 
she  had  been  away  they  had  had  no  light  in  the 
house.  They  could  n't  make  anything  burn,  and 
the  fire  which  they  tried  to  bring  from  the 
neighbours  went  out  the  moment  it  was  brought 
into  the  house. 

"  Perhaps  your  light  will  keep  !  "  said  the  step- 
mother.    They  carried  the   skull  into  the  house, 


86  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

when  the  eyes  gazed  so  steadily  at  the  stepmother 
and  her  daughters  that  it  burnt  them.  They 
tried  to  hide,  but  wherever  they  went  the  eyes 
always  followed  them.  In  the  morning  they  were 
burnt  to  ashes,  but  it  did  not  touch  Vasilisa. 

Then  Vasilisa  buried  the  skull  in  the  ground, 
locked  the  house  up,  went  into  the  city,  and 
asked  for  shelter  with  an  old  woman  who  had  no 
relations.  She  said  to  the  old  woman:  "It  is 
tiresome  for  me  to  have  nothing  to  do,  grannie. 
Come  buy  me  the  very  best  flax  and  I  will 
spin  for  you." 

The  woman  bought  some  of  the  very  best  flax 
and  Vasilisa  sat  down  to  her  task.  The  work 
fairly  glowed  under  her  hands  and  the  thread 
that  she  made  came  out  as  smooth  and  even  as 
hair.  She  made  a  lot  of  thread  the  finest  that 
ever  was  seen.  No  one  could  equal  it.  Vasilisa 
had  gone  to  ask  her  Doll's  advice,  and  the  Doll 
had  said :  "  Bring  me  an  old  comb  and  an  old 
shuttle,  even  a  curry-comb  :  I  will  do  it  for  you." 

So  Vasilisa  got  her  all  that  she  asked  for,  and 
went  to  bed ;  and  the  Doll  during  the  night  made 
a  splendid  loom. 

Toward  the  end  of  the  winter  the  linen  was 
all  spun,  and  it  was  so  fine  that  one  could  pass 


VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY  87 

it  through  the  eye  of  a  needle  like  a  thread.  In 
the  spring  they  bleached  the  linen,  and  Vasilisa 
said  to  the  old  woman :  "  Grannie,  take  this  linen 
and  get  some  money  for  it !  " 

The  old  dame  looked  at  the  stuff  and  exclaimed : 
"  No,  my  dear  child,  no  one  except  the  Tsar  should 
wear  such  linen.     I  will  take  it  to  court." 

So  she  went  to  the  Tsar's  palace  and  kept 
marching  up  and  down  in  front  of  the  windows. 
The  Tsar  saw  her  and  asked :  "  What  do  you 
want,  old  dame  %  " 

"  Your  majesty,"  she  replied,  "  I  have  brought 
you  some  wonderful  cloth.  I  do  not  want  to  show 
it  to  anyone  except  yourself." 

The  Tsar  commanded  that  it  be  brought 
before  him,  and  when  he  saw  the  linen  he  was 
dumfounded. 

"  What  will  you  take  for  this  ?  "  he  asked. 

"  It  will  not  cost  you  anything,  Tsar-father !  I 
have  brought  it  to  you  for  a  gift." 

The  Tsar  thanked  her  and  sent  her  off  witK 
handsome  presents. 

From  that  linen  they  started  to  make  the  Tsar 
some  shirts.  They  cut  them  out,  but  they  could 
not  find  a  seamstress  anywhere  to  make  them. 
They  searched  long,  and  at  last  the  Tsar  summoned 


88  VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY 

the  old  dame  and  said  to  her:  "  You  were 
clever  enough  to  spin  and  weave  this  cloth,  you 
must  be  clever  enough  to  make  some  shirts  out 
of  it." 

"  Sovereign,  it  was  not  I  who  spun  and  wove 
this  cloth,"  said  the  old  dame;  "it  is  the  work 
of  my  adopted  daughter." 

"  Well,  let  her  make  them,"  he  said. 

The  woman  went  home  and  told  Vasilisa  all 
about  this. 

"I  knew,"  said  Vasilisa,  "that  this  work  of  my 
hands  would  not  suit  them." 

She  shut  herself  in  her  room  and  took  hold 
of  the  work.  She  sewed  steadily  without  once 
letting  it  out  of  her  hands,  and  soon  a  dozen 
shirts  were  ready. 

The  dame  took  the  shirts  to  the  Tsar  and 
Vasilisa  washed  her  face  and  hands,  combed  her 
hair,  dressed  herself,  and  sat  down  at  the  window, 
waiting  to  see  what  would  happen.  Presently 
one  of  the  Tsar's  servants  came  into  the  old 
dame's  yard  and  said  :  "  Our  sovereign  Tsar  wishes 
to  see  the  clever  artist  who  has  made  him  the 
shirts  and  to  reward  her  from  his  own  hands." 

Vasilisa  went  and  showed  herself  before  the 
eyes  of  the  Tsar.     When  he  saw  the  fair  young 


VASILISA    THE    BEAUTY  89 

girl  he  fell  passionately  in  love  with  her.  "  No !  " 
he  exclaimed,  "I  will  never  part  with  you:  you 
shall  be  my  wife."  So  the  Tsar  took  Vasilisa 
by  her  white  hands  and  caused  her  to  sit  by  his 
side,  and  so  they  celebrated  a  great  wedding. 
Vasilisa's  father  soon  afterwards  returned  home. 
He  was  delighted  with  her  good  fortune,  and 
from  that  time  forth  he  lived  at  his  daughter's. 
Yasilisa  took  the  old  dame  also  to  be  with  her ;  but 
the  Doll  she  kept  in  her  pocket  to  the  very  end  of 
her  days. 


MARYA  MOREVNA 


MARYA  MOREVNA 


N  a  certain  kingdom,  in  a  certain 
realm,  once  lived  Prince  Ivan  and 
his  three  sisters.  One  was  Princess 
Marya,  the  second  was  Princess  Olga, 
and  the  third  was  Princess  Anna. 
Their  father  and  mother  were  dead.  When  they 
were  dying  they  gave  this  command  to  their  son : 
"Whoever  comes  wooing  your  sisters  first,  let 
them  have  them.  Don't  keep  them  long  in  your 
house ! " 

The  prince  buried  his  parents,  and  full  of  grief 
went  with  his  sisters  to  walk  in  the  green  garden. 
Suddenly  a  black  cloud  arose  in  the  sky  and  a 
terrible  storm  came  on  them. 

"  Come,  let  us  go  into  the  house,  sisters,"  ex- 
claimed Prince  Ivan. 

They  had  hardly  got  indoors  ere  the  thunder 
crashed,  the  ceiling  cracked,  and  a  bright  Hawk 
flew  down  through  it  into  the  room  where  they 
were.  As  soon  as  the  Hawk  touched  the  floor,  he 
turned  into  a  fine  young  man  who  said  : 


94  MARYA   MOREVNA 

"  Your  health,  Prince  Ivan.  Hitherto  I  have 
been  here  as  your  guest,  now  I  have  come  as  a 
suitor.  I  should  like  to  take  your  sister,  the  Prin- 
cess Mary  a,  as  my  wife." 

"  If  my  sister  likes  you  I  have  no  objection. 
Let  her  go  with  you  under  God's  care." 

The  Princess  Marya  was  willing;  so  the  Hawk 
took  her  as  his  wife  and  carried  her  off  to  his 
kingdom. 

Days  followed  days,  hours  trod  on  the  heels  of 
hours.  Almost  a  whole  year  had  passed.  Prince 
Ivan  and  his  two  sisters  went  to  stroll  in  their  green 
garden.  Again  a  cloud  came  up  with  a  fierce  wind, 
with  lightning.  "  Come,  sisters,  let  us  go  into  the 
house !  "  said  the  prince. 

They  had  hardly  got  indoors  ere  a  thunderbolt 
struck  the  roof,  which  tumbled  in,  the  ceiling  split, 
and  an  Eagle  flew  down.  As  soon  as  the  Eagle 
touched  the  floor  it  became  a  fine  young  man : 

"  Good  day  to  you,  Prince  Ivan,"  he  said. 
"  Hitherto  I  have  visited  you  as  a  guest,  but  now 
I  have  come  as  suitor." 

And  he  asked  for  the  hand  of  Princess  Olga. 

Prince  Ivan  replied : 

"  If  you  please  Princess  Olga,  let  her  go  with 
you-;  but  I  do  not  force  her  against  her  will." 


MARYA   MOREVNA  95 

Princess  Olga  consented  and  became  the  Eagle's 
wife.  The  Eagle  caught  her  up  and  bore  her  away 
to  his  kingdom. 

Still  another  year  passed.  Prince  Ivan  said  to 
his  youngest  sister :  "  Come,  let  us  walk  in  the 
green  garden." 

They  had  been  strolling  about  a  little  while 
when  again  a  cloud  appeared  with  a  fierce  wind 
and  with  lightning. 

"  Come,  sister,  let  us  go  home,"  he  said. 

They  went  into  the  house,  and  hardly  had  they 
sat  down  when  there  was  a  crash  of  thunder,  the 
ceiling  split,  and  a  Raven  flew  down  to  them.  As 
soon  as  the  Raven  touched  the  floor  it  turned  into 
a  fine  young  man.  The  other  birds  had  been  fine, 
but  this  was  the  finest  of  all. 

"  Well,  Prince  Ivan,"  he  said,  "  hitherto  I  have 
come  as  a  guest,  but  now  I  am  here  as  a  suitor. 
Give  me  Princess  Anna." 

"  I  do  not  control  my  sister's  will ;  if  you  are  in 
love  with  her,  let  her  go  with  you." 

Princess  Anna  followed  the  Raven  and  he  took 
her  to  his  realm.  Prince  Ivan  remained  alone.  A 
whole  year  he  lived  without  his  sisters,  and  his  life 
became  dull  to  him.  Said  he :  "I  am  going  to  find 
my  sisters." 


96  MARYA   MOREVNA 

He  set  out  and  he  travelled  and  he  travelled,  and 
at  last  he  saw  before  him  a  great  army  defeated. 
Prince  Ivan  asked:  "If  there  is  a  man  alive  here 
let  him  answer.    Who  conquered  this  great  host?" 

A  living  man  answered :  "  Marya  Morevna,  the 
beautiful  queen,  conquered  this  mighty  host." 

Prince  Ivan  proceeded  on  his  way,  and  he  came 
to  white  tents,  and  Marya  Morevna,  the  beautiful 
queen,  came  to  meet  him. 

"  Your  good  health,  prince,"  she  said,  "  whither 
does  God  bring  you  —  of  your  own  will  or  against 
your  own  will  % " 

Prince  Ivan  replied:  "  Brave  young  men  do  not 
go  against  their  own  will." 

"  Well  if  your  business  does  not  demand  haste, 
come  and  be  my  guest  in  my  camp,"  she  replied. 

Prince  Ivan  was  glad  of  that.  He  spent  two 
nights  in  the  queen's  camp,  and  he  fell  in  love  with 
Marya  Morevna  and  took  her  as  his  wife.  Marya 
Morevna,  the  beautiful  queen,  took  him  with  her 
to  her  kingdom,  where  they  lived  together  for  some 
time.  Then  it  occurred  to  the  queen  to  prepare 
for  a  war.  She  entrusted  everything  to  Prince  Ivan 
and  gave  him  this  injunction :  "  Go  everywhere 
and  look  after  everything ;  only  it  is  forbidden  you 
to  look  into  this  storeroom." 


The  beautiful  Queen  came  to  meet  him 


MARYA   MOREVNA  97 

That  was  more  than  he  could  bear.  As  soon  as 
Marya  Morevna  had  gone,  he  rushed  to  the  store- 
room, opened  the  door,  and  looked  around.  And 
there  hung  Koshchei  the  Deathless,1  fastened  with 
twelve  chains. 

Koshchei  besought  Prince  Ivan : 

"  Have  pity  upon  me  and  give  me  a  drink !  For 
ten  years  have  I  been  tormented  here,  and  I  have 
had  nothing  to  eat  or  to  drink  and  my  throat  is  all 
dried  up." 

The  prince  gave  him  a  whole  bucket  of  water. 
He  drank  it  down  with  one  gulp  and  asked  for  more. 

"  One  bucket  is  not  enough  to  quench  my  thirst; 
give  me  some  more !  " 

The  prince  gave  him  another  bucket  full. 
Koshchei  drank  it  down  also  and  asked  for  yet  a 
third.  As  soon  as  he  had  drained  the  third  he  re- 
gained all  his  pristine  strength,  took  the  twelve 
chains,  and  broke  them  all  at  once. 

"  Thank  you,  Prince  Ivan,"  said  Koshchei  the 
Deathless.  "  Now  you  will  never  see  Marya  Morevna 
again,  no  matter  how  you  may  long  for  her ! "  And 
with  a  terrible  whirlwind  he  flew  out  of  the  window, 
fell  upon  Marya  Morevna,  the  beautiful  queen,  on 
the  way,  seized  her,  and  carried  her  off. 

1  Personification  of  Death. 


98  MARYA  MOREVNA 

Now  Prince  Ivan  wept  bitterly,  and  started  down 
the  road. 

"  Whatever  happens  I  will  go  and  find  Mary  a 
Morevna,"  he  said. 

He  went  one  day,  he  went  two  days,  and  at  dawn 
of  the  third  he  saw  a  wonderful  palace,  and  near  the 
palace  stood  an  oak-tree,  and  on  the  oak-tree  sat  a 
bright  Hawk.  The  Hawk  flew  down  from  the 
oak-tree  and  as  soon  as  he  lighted  on  the  ground  he 
turned  into  a  fine  young  man  and  cried  out : 

"Ah,  my  beloved  brother-in-law!  I  hope  the 
Lord  is  good  to  you !  '# 

The  Princess  Marya  came  running  out,  and  she 
joyously  welcomed  Prince  Ivan,  and  began  to  ask 
him  about  his  health,  and  to  tell  him  all  about  her 
manner  of  life. 

The  prince  stayed  with  them  three  days,  and  then 
said :  "I  cannot  stay  any  longer  with  you ;  I  am 
going  in  search  of  my  wife,  Marya  Morevna,  the 
beautiful  queen." 

"  It  will  be  hard  for  you  to  find  her,"  said  the 
Hawk.  "  Leave  here  your  silver  spoon  at  all 
events ;  we  shall  be  able  to  look  at  it  and  remember 
you  by  it." 

Prince  Ivan  left  his  silver  spoon  with  the  Hawk 
and  went  on  his  way.     He  went  one  day,  went 


MARYA   MOREVNA  99 

two  days,  and  at  dawn  of  the  third  day  he  saw  a 
palace  still  finer  than  the  first,  and  near  the  palace 
stood  an  oak-tree,  and  on  the  oak-tree  sat  an  Eagle. 
The  Eagle  flew  down  from  the  oak-tree,  and  as 
soon  as  it  touched  the  ground  it  turned  into  a  fine 
young  man  who  cried  out :  "  Make  haste,  Princess 
Olga,  our  dear  brother  is  coming ! " 

The  Princess  Olga  came  running  out  to  meet 
him,  began  to  hug  him  and  kiss  him,  asked  after 
his  health,  and  told  him  all  about  her  manner 
of  life. 

Prince  Ivan  visited  with  them  three  short  days, 
and  then  said :  "I  cannot  stay  any  longer ;  I  am 
going  to  find  my  wife,  Marya  Morevna,  the  beauti- 
ful queen." 

The  Eagle  replied :  "It  will  be  hard  for  you  to 
find  her.  Leave  with  us  your  silver  fork ;  when 
we  look  at  it  we  shall  have  something  to  remember 
you  by." 

He  left  them  his  silver  fork  and  started  on  his  way. 
He  went  one  day,  he  went  a  second  day,  and  at 
dawn  of  the  third  day  he  saw  a  palace  still  better 
than  the  first  two,  and  near  the  palace  grew  an  oak- 
tree,  and  on  the  oak-tree  sat  a  Raven.  The  Raven 
flew  down  from  the  oak-tree,  and  as  soon  as  he 
touched  foot  to  the  ground  he  turned  into  a  fine 


100  MARYA  MOREVNA 

young  man  who  cried  out:  "Princess  Anna,  come 
quickly,  here  is  our  brother!" 

Princess  Anna  came  running  out,  met  him  joy- 
ously, began  to  hug  him  and  kiss  him,  and  asked 
after  his  health,  and  told  him  all  about  her  manner 
of  life. 

Prince  Ivan  visited  with  them  three  short  days, 
and  then  he  said:  "Good-bye,  I  am  going  off  to 
find  my  wife,  Marya  Morevna,  the  beautiful  queen." 

The  Raven  replied :  "  It  will  be  hard  for  you  to 
find  her.  Leave  with  us  your  little  silver  snuff- 
box ;  when  we  look  at  it  we  shall  have  something 
to  remember  you  by." 

The  prince  gave  him  his  little  silver  snuff-box, 
said  good-bye,  and  started  on  his  way.  He  went 
one  day,  and  he  went  a  second  day,  but  on  the 
third  day  he  found  Marya  Morevna.  When  she 
saw  her  husband  she  threw  herself  on  his  neck 
and  burst  into  tears  exclaiming : 

"  Oh,  Prince  Ivan,  why  did  you  not  heed  me  1 
Why  did  you  look  into  the  storeroom  and  let 
Koshchei  the  Deathless  escape  1 " 

"Forgive  me,  Marya  Morevna!  Do  not  recall 
what  is  past  and  gone.  Come,  let  us  go  away 
together,  since  Koshchei  is  not  in  sight.  Perhaps 
he  will  not  overtake  us." 


MARYA  MOREVNA  101 

So  they  got  their  things  and  started  off. 

Now  Koshchei  was  out  hunting,  but  toward 
evening  he  returned  home.  His  good  steed  stum- 
bled under  him. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  you  hungry  jade  ? 
What  makes  you  stumble?  Do  you  scent  some 
misfortune  1 " 

The  horse  replied  :  "  Prince  Ivan  has  come  and 
carried  off  Marya  Morevna." 

"  But  we  can  overtake  them,  can't  we  1 " 

"  One  may  sow  wheat  and  wait  till  it  grows,  till 
it  is  harvested,  till  it  is  ground,  till  it  is  made  into 
flour,  till  it  is  baked  into  five  loaves  of  bread,  and 
all  that  time  you  would  be  in  pursuit  of  them. 
But  if  we  are  going  to  try,  it  is  time  to  start." 

Koshchei  galloped  away  and  overtook  Prince 
Ivan. 

"Now  look  here,"  said  he,  "I  will  forgive  you 
this  once  on  account  of  your  kindness  to  me  in 
giving  me  a  drink  of  water,  and  a  second  time  I 
will  forgive  you  ;  but  the  third  time  beware.  I  will 
chop  you  up  into  mincemeat !  " 

He  seized  Marya  Morevna  and  carried  her  off,  and 
Prince  Ivan  sat  down  on  a  stone  and  wept.  He 
wept  and  wept  and  started  off  again  in  search  of 
Marya  Morevna.     When  he  at  last  found  her  again, 


102  MARYA   MOREVNA 

it  happened  that  Koshchei  the  Deathless  was  not 
at  home. 

"  Let  us  go,  Marya  Morevna !  "  he  said. 

"  Oh,  Prince  Ivan,  he  will  overtake  us ! "  she 
replied. 

"  Let  him  overtake  us  then.  At  any  rate  we  shall 
have  spent  a  sweet  hour  together." 

They  got  ready  and  started  off. 

Koshchei  the  Deathless  was  on  his  way  home, 
and  his  good  horse  stumbled  under  him. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  you  hungry  jade  ? 
What  makes  you  stumble?  or  do  you  scent  some 
misfortune  ?  " 

"  Prince  Ivan  has  come  after  Marya  Morevna  and 
has  taken  her  off  with  him." 

"Weil,  we  can  overtake  them,  can't  we?" 

"  You  can  sow  barley  and  wait  till  it  has  grown, 
till  it  is  harvested,  till  it  is  ground,  till  it  is  brewed 
into  beer,  till  it  has  made  people  drunk,  and  they 
have  slept  it  off,  before  you  will  catch  them.  But  if 
you  are  going  to  do  it,  we  had  better  make  haste." 

Koshchei  galloped  away  and  overtook  Prince 
Ivan. 

"  I  told  you  once  that  you  should  never  see 
Marya  Morevna,  no  matter  how  much  you  might 
wish  to !  "  he  exclaimed. 


MARYA   MOREVNA  103 

Then  be  seized  her  and  carried  her  off  with  him. 

Prince  Ivan  was  left  alone.  He  wept  and  he 
wept,  and  again  he  started  after  Marya  Morevna. 
This  time  also,  by  good  lnck,  Koshchei  was  not  at 
home.     "  Let  us  go,  Marya  Morevna !  "  he  said. 

"  Oh,  Prince  Ivan,"  she  exclaimed,  trembling,"  he 
will  surely  catch  us,  and  he  will  hack  you  to  pieces ! " 

"  Let  him  hack  me  to  pieces ! "  he  replied  fiercely, 
"  I  cannot  live  without  you." 

So  they  got  ready  and  started  off. 

Koshchei  the  Deathless  was  on  his  way  home, 
and  his  good  steed  stumbled  under  him.  "Why 
do  you  stumble?"  said  he.  "Do  you  scent  some 
misfortune  1 " 

"  Prince  Ivan  has  come  after  Marya  Morevna  and 
has  carried  her  away,"  the  steed  answered. 

Without  loss  of  time  Koshchei  galloped  after 
them,  overtook  Prince  Ivan,  and  cut  him  into  mince- 
meat, and  put  him  into  a  pitchy  cask.  He  took 
this  cask,  fastened  it  with  iron  hoops,  and  flung  it 
into  the  blue  sea ;  and  he  carried  Marya  Morevna 
off  with  him. 

At  this  very  time  the  silver  articles  that  Prince 
Ivan  had  left  at  his  brothers-in-law  turned  black. 
f  Oh,"  they  exclaimed,  "  some  misfortune  has  evi- 
dently taken  place  i " 


104  MARYA   MOREVNA 

The  Eagle  dived  down  into  the  blue  sea,  seized  the 
cask,  arid  brought  it  up  on  shore.  The  Hawk  flew 
off  and  brought  the  Water  of  Life.  The  Raven 
flew  off  and  brought  the  Water  of  Death.  All  three 
settled  down  in  one  place,  broke  open  the  cask,  took 
out  the  bits  of  Prince  Ivan,  washed  them,  and  put 
them  together  as  they  belonged.  The  Raven 
sprinkled  them  with  the  Water  of  Death ;  the 
body  grew  together  again,  all  in  one  piece.  The 
Hawk  sprinkled  it  with  the  Water  of  Life ;  Prince 
Ivan  shuddered  a  little,  got  to  his  feet,  and  said: 
"  Oh,  how  long  I  have  been  sleeping !  " 

"  You  would  have  slept  much  longer  if  it  had  not 
been  for  us,"  replied  his  brothers-in-law.  "Now 
come  and  make  us  a  visit." 

"No,  brothers,  I  am  going  to  find  Mary  a 
Morevna,"  he  answered.  So  a  fourth  time  he  went 
on  his  quest,  and  when  he  found  her  he  entreated 
her :  "  Find  out  from  Koshchei  the  Deathless 
where  he  got  such  a  good  steed." 

So  Marya  Morevna  seized  a  favorable  opportu- 
nity and  began  to  ply  Koshchei  with  questions. 
Koshchei  said  in  reply  : 

"  Beyond  the  thrice-nine  kingdoms,  in  the  thir- 
tieth realm,  beyond  the  fiery  river,  lives  the  Baba 
Yaga.     She  has  such  a  mare,  and  on  it  every  day 


MARYA   MOREVNA  105 

she  flies  around  the  world.  And  she  has  many 
other  splendid  mares.  I  served  her  as  a  herds- 
man for  three  days,  and  as  I  did  not  let  one 
single  mare  escape,  the  Baba  Yaga  gave  me  one 
little  colt." 

"  How  did  you  cross  the  fiery  river  1 " 

"  Oh,  I  have  such  and  such  a  handkerchief,  and 
when  I  wave  it  three  times  toward  the  right  it 
grows  into  a  high,  high  bridge,  and  the  fire  cannot 
reach  it." 

Marya  Morevna  listened  to  what  he  said,  and  she 
told  it  all  to  Prince  Ivan,  and  she  got  the  handker- 
chief and  gave  it  to  him. 

Prince  Ivan  managed  to  cross  the  fiery  river, 
and  he  went  to  find  the  Baba  Yaga.  Long, 
long  he  travelled  without  eating  or  drinking.  A 
strange  bird  happened  to  meet  him  with  her 
little  ones.  Prince  Ivan  said :  "I  will  eat  one  of 
her  fledglings." 

"Do  not  eat  it,  Prince  Ivan,"  besought  the  strange 
bird;  "  sometime  I  may  be  able  to  help  you." 

He  went  on  and  on.  In  the  forest  he  saw  a  hive 
of  bees.  Said  he :  "I  guess  I  will  take  a  little 
honey."  The  little  bee-mother  begged  him  not  to. 
"  Do  not  touch  my  honey,  Prince  Ivan !  Sometime 
I  may  be  able  to  help  you." 


106  MARYA   MOREVNA 

He  refrained  from  touching  it,  and  went  on  his 
way,  and  happened  to  fall  in  with  a  lioness  and 
her  cub. 

"  I  have  a  mind  to  eat  this  lioness ;  I  'm  so  hungry 
that  it  makes  me  sick." 

"  Do  not  touch  me,  Prince  Ivan,"  she  entreated, 
"  sometime  I  may  be  able  to  help  you." 

"  Very  good,  just  as  you  please." 

He  went  on  slowly,  half-starved,  and  he  went 
and  he  went,  and  at  last  there  stood  the  Baba  Yaga's 
house,  and  around  the  house  were  a  dozen  stakes, 
and  on  each  of  the  dozen  stakes  except  one  was  a 
man's  skull. 

"  Good  afternoon,  grannie !  "  he  said. 

"  Good  afternoon,  Prince  Ivan!  Why  did  you 
come — of  your  own  good  will  or  because  you 
had  to  9  " 

"  I  came  to  serve  you  for  a  gallant  horse." 

"  So  be  it,  prince !  You  need  not  serve  me  for 
a  whole  year,  but  three  days  will  be  enough !  If 
you  guard  my  mares  well,  I  will  give  you  a  gallant 
steed.  But  if  not,  do  not  be  angry ;  your  head 
will  be  stuck  on  the  last  of  the  stakes." 

Prince  Ivan  agreed ;  the  Baba  Yaga  gave  him 
food  and  drink  and  bade  him  attend  to  his  work. 

As  soon  as  he  had  driven  the  mares  out  into 


MARYA   MOREVNA  107 

the  field,  they  began  to  switch  their  tails,  and  all 
of  them  darted  in  different  directions  across  the 
meadows.  The  prince  could  not  follow  them  with 
his  eyes,  so  qnickly  did  they  disappear  from  sight. 
Then  he  wept  and  mourned,  and  he  sat  down  on  a 
stone  and  fell  asleep.  The  dear  sun  was  already 
setting  when  a  strange  bird  flew  up  to  him  and 
awoke  him. 

"  Wake  up,  Prince  Ivan,  the  mares  are  at  home 
now ! "  The  prince  got  up,  went  home,  and  the 
Baba  Yaga  was  making  a  clamor  and  shouting  to 
her  mares  :  "  What  have  you  come  home  for  1 " 

"Why  shouldn't  we  come  home?"  they  an- 
swered. "  Birds  came  flying  from  all  over  the 
world,  and  they  almost  pecked  our  eyes  out." 

"  Well,  then,  see  that  to-morrow  you  don't  go  to 
the  meadows,  but  scatter  through  the  thick  forest." 

Prince  Ivan  slept  all  night,  and  in  the  morning 
the  Baba  Yaga  said  to  him  :  "  Look  here,  prince  ! 
If  you  do  not  watch  the  mares  well,  if  a  single  one 
is  lost,  your  proud  head  will  adorn  the  stake." 

He  drove  the  mares  out  to  pasture.  Instantly 
they  switched  their  tails  and  scattered  through  the 
thick  forest. 

Again  the  prince  sat  down  on  a  stone  and  wept 
and  wept   and   fell   asleep.     The   dear   sun  was 


108  MARYA  MOREVNA 

sinking  behind  the  forest,  when  a  lioness  came 
running  up  to  him,  crying :  "  Prince  Ivan,  wake 
up !  the  mares  are  all  stabled." 

Prince  Ivan  woke  up  and  went  home.  The 
Baba  Yaga  was  scolding  worse  than  before  and 
shouting  to  her  mares:  "Why  did  you  come 
home?" 

"  Why  shouldn't  we  come  home?  Fierce  wild 
beasts  were  running  up  from  all  parts  of  the  world, 
and  they  almost  tore  us  to  pieces." 

"Well,  to-morrow  drive  them  into  the  blue  sea." 

Again  Prince  Ivan  slept  all  night,  and  in  the 
morning  the  Baba  Yaga  commanded  him  to  pasture 
her  mares :  "  If  you  do  not  watch  them  well,  your 
proud  head  will  set  on  the  stake !  " 

He  drove  the  mares  out  to  pasture,  and  instantly 
they  switched  their  tails  and  ran  down  into  the  blue 
sea,  and  stood  in  the  water  up  to  their  necks. 
Prince  Ivan  sat  down  on  a  stone  and  cried  himself 
to  sleep. 

The  dear  sun  was  sinking  behind  the  forest,  when 
a  bee  came  flying  up  to  him  and  said : 

"  Prince,  wake  up !  The  mares  are  all  stabled. 
But  as  soon  as  you  go  home,  do  not  show  yourself 
to  the  Baba  Yaga.  Go  into  the  stable  and  hide 
behind  the  stalls.     There  you  will  find  a  scurvy 


MARYA  MOREVNA  109 

colt.     Steal  him  and  in  the  deep  dead  of  night  leave 
the  place." 

Prince  Ivan  got  up,  went  to  the  stable,  and  crept 
behind  the  stalls.  The  Baba  Yaga  was  storming 
and  crying  to  her  mares :  "  Why  did  you  return 
home  %  " 

"  Why  shouldn't  we  return  home  %  A  swarm  of 
bees  flew  from  somewhere  out  of  the  whole  world 
and  stung  us  all  about  till  the  blood  came." 

The  Baba  Yaga  went  to  sleep,  and  that  very  night 
Prince  Ivan  stole  from  her  the  scurvy  colt,  saddled 
him,  mounted  him,  and  galloped  off  to  the  fiery 
river.  As  soon  as  he  reached  the  fiery  river  he 
waved  the  handkerchief  three  times  to  the  right, 
and  lo  and  behold !  no  one  knows  how,  a  lofty, 
splendid  bridge  arched  the  river.  The  prince 
crossed  the  bridge  and  waved  the  handkerchief 
only  twice  toward  the  left,  and  lo  !  a  small  slender 
bridge  remained  over  the  river. 

In  the  morning  the  Baba  Yaga  woke  up  and  she 
could  not  see  her  scurvy  colt  anywhere.  She  flew 
into  a  fury.  With  all  her  might  and  main  she  leaped 
into  her  iron  mortar,  whipped  it  up  with  her  pestle, 
and  swept  away  the  tracks  with  her  besom.  She 
galloped  up  to  the  fiery  river,  looked  at  it,  and  said 
to  herself:  "  A  fine  bridge  !  " 


110  MARYA  MOREVNA 

She  galloped  out  on  the  bridge,  but  when  she 
reached  the  middle,  the  bridge  broke  and  the  Baba 
Yaga  fell  with  a  thud  into  the  river,  and  there  a 
cruel  death  overtook  her  ! 

Prince  Ivan  pastured  the  colt  in  green  meadows, 
and  he  grew  into  a  wonderful  horse.  Then  the 
prince  came  riding  up  to  Marya  Morevna.  She 
came  running  to  meet  him,  threw  herself  on  his 
neck,  and  said :  "  How  did  God  deliver  you  %  " 

."  So  and  so,"  said  he ;  "  come  with  me." 

"  I  am  afraid,  Prince  Ivan !  If  Koshchei  should 
catch  us,  he  would  make  mincemeat  of  you  again." 

"  No,  he  will  not  catch  us  this  time!  I  have 
a  wonderful  and  a  gallant  horse ;  he  flies  like  a 
bird." 

They  mounted  on  the  horse's  back  and  set  off. 

Koshchei  the  Deathless  was  on  his  way  home ; 
his  horse  stumbled  under  him. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  you  hungry  jade, 
that  you  stumble  so  ?  or  do  you  scent  some  mis- 
fortune % " 

"  Prince  Ivan  has  come  and  has  carried  off  Marya 
Morevna." 

"  Well,  we  can  catch  him,  can't  we  %  " 

"  God  knows !  now  Prince  Ivan  has  a  gallant 
horse,  better  than  I  am." 


Thev  mounted  on  the  horse's  back  and  set  off 


MARYA   MOREVNA  111 

"  I  cannot  help  that,"  said  Koshchei  the  Death- 
less.    "  I  am  going  in  pursuit  of  him." 

Long,  long  he  pursued  Prince  Ivan  before  he 
overtook  him.  Then  he  leaped  to  the  ground  and 
was  just  going  to  cut  him  with  his  keen  sabre,  but 
at  that  instant  Prince  Ivan's  horse  kicked  Koshchei 
the  Deathless  with  his  hoof  and  split  his  head,  and 
the  prince  finished  him  with  his  club.  After 
this  the  prince  piled  wood  on  his  chest,  kindled  a 
fire,  and  burnt  Koshchei  the  Deathless  on  the  pyre 
and  he  scattered  the  ashes  to  the  winds. 

Marya  Morevna  mounted  on  Koshchei's  steed 
and  Prince  Ivan  on  his  own,  and  they  went  first 
and  visited  the  Raven,  then  the  Eagle,  and  finally 
the  Hawk.  And  wherever  they  came  they  were 
received  with  a  joyous  welcome  : 

"  Oh,  Prince  Ivan,  we  never  expected  to  see  you 
again !  But  you  have  not  been  through  all  this 
trouble  in  vain ;  for  such  a  beautiful  woman  as 
Marya  Morevna  you  might  seek  throughout  the 
whole  world,  but  you  would  never  find  another ! " 

They  feasted  them,  they  entertained  them,  and 
then  they  came  home  to  their  own  kingdom.  When 
they  got  there  they  lived  happily  ever  after. 


THE  FROG-QUEEN 


THE  FROG-QUEEN 

|NCE  upon  a  time  a  king  and  queen 
lived  in  a  certain  kingdom,  in  a  cer- 
tain realm,  beyond  blue  seas,  beyond 
high  mountains.  Long  had  the 
king  lived  in  the  white  world,  and  as 
he  lived  he  grew  old,  and  to  aid  him  he  had  three 
sons,  three  princes — all  young  men  and  so  gallant 
that  neither  tongue  could  describe  nor  pen  depict 
them.  They  used  to  go  flying  about  the  whole 
day  long  on  their  splendid  steeds,  like  bright  hawks 
through  the  sky.  All  three  brothers  were  hand- 
some and  brave,  but  the  best  of  them,  the  finest  of 
them,  was  the  youngest  brother,  and  his  name  was 
Prince  Ivan. 

One  day  the  king  called  his  sons  to  him  and 
said :  "  My  dear  children,  you  are  now  grown  up. 
It  is  time  for  you  to  think  of  getting  married.  You 
shall  have  wives  and  I  daughters-in-law.  Let 
each  choose  a  well-tempered  arrow  and  go  down 
into  the  forbidden  meadow.  Bend  your  stiff  bows 
and     shoot     your     arrows,    and    into    whatever 


116  THE  FROG-QUEEN 

courtyard  your  arrows  fall,  there  will  you  find  your 
brides." 

The  oldest  brother  shot  his  arrow,  and  it  fell  into 
the  yard  of  a  rich  noble,  right  over  against  the 
room  occupied  by  the  daughter  of  the  house. 

The  second  son  shot  his  arrow,  and  it  flew  into 
the  courtyard  of  a  rich  merchant,  and  remained 
sticking  in  the  red  stairway,  and  on  the  stairway 
stood  the  merchant's  daughter. 

Prince  Ivan  shot  his  arrow.  It  soared  high,  it 
fell  out  of  sight,  and  though  he  hunted  for  it  long 
he  could  not  find  it.  So  his  heart  grew  heavy, 
and  he  was  sad.  For  two  whole  days  he  wandered 
over  the  meadows  and  through  the  forests,  but  on 
the  third  day  he  made  his  way  into  a  miry  swamp, 
and  he  saw  there  a  Frog,  and  the  Frog  had  his  arrow. 

Prince  Ivan*  was  on  the  point  of  running  away 
and  leaving  his  arrow,  but  the  Frog  cried  out : 

"Kwa!  kwa!  Prince  Ivan!  Come  to  me  and 
take  your  arrow,  else  you  will  never  escape  from 
the  bog ! " 

There  was  no  choice.  Prince  Ivan  took  the  Frog, 
put  her  in  the  folds  of  his  coat,  and  wended  his 
way  home.     He  went  to  his  father  and  said  : 

"  How  can  I  marry  a  Frog1?  A  Frog  is  n't  my 
equal." 


The  Frog  had  his  arrow 


THE   FROG-QUEEN  11? 

"  There !  there !  "  exclaimed  the  king,  "  this  is 
only  your  fortune!" 

Prince  Ivan  was  very  sad,  and  he  shed  many  tears, 
but  you  see  there  is  no  resisting  one's  fate. 

So  the  young  princes  were  provided  with  wives. 
The  oldest  had  the  noble's  daughter;  the  second 
had  the  merchant's  daughter;  while  the  youngest 
had  to  take  for  his  wife  the  little  Frog,  and  he  kept 
her  in  a  dish  after  they  were  married.  And  so 
they  lived  for  some  time. 

But  one  day  the  king  summoned  his  sons  and 
give  them  this  order  :  "Let  your  wives  bake  for  my 
breakfast  to-morrow  some  fresh  white  bread." 

Prince  Ivan  went  home  to  his  palace  in  no  happy 
frame  of  mind,  and  his  proud  head  hung  down 
below  his  shoulders. 

"Kwa!  kwa!  Prince  Ivan,  why  so  troubled?" 
asked  his  Frog.  "  Did  you  hear  a  disagreeable  word 
from  your  father  1 " 

"  How  can  I  help  being  troubled  1  The  sovereign, 
my  father,  has  commanded  that  you  furnish  him 
with  some  fresh  white  bread  for  to-morrow." 

"  Do  not  be  distressed,  Prince  Ivan ;  do  not  dis- 
turb yourself  for  nothing,  but  go  to  bed.  Morning 
is  cleverer  than  Evening.' 

She  got  the  prince  off  to  sleep,  and  then  she  laid 


118  THE   FROG-QUEEN 

aside  her  frogskin.  In  her  place  stood  the  Soul- 
maiden,  Vasilisathe  All-wise,  and  so  beautiful  that 
neither  tongue  could  describe  nor  pen  depict  her. 
She  went  to  the  stairway  and  called  out  in  a  loud 
voice : 

"  Maidies !  maidies  !  come  get  the  materials  and 
make  some  fresh  white  bread,  such  as  I  used  to  eat 
when  I  lived  in  my  own  father's  house !  " 

In  the  morning  Prince  Ivan  woke  up  and  found 
that  the  Frog  had  the  bread  all  ready  for  him,  and 
such  fine  bread  as  could  not  be  imagined  or  con- 
ceived, but  only  described  in  a  story.  The  loaf 
was  adorned  with  different  kinds  of  devices  :  on  the 
sides  were  to  be  seen  the  king's  cities  and  the 
gates. 

Prince  Ivan  took  the  bread  and  carried  it  to  his 
father,  who  had  just  received  the  loaves  from  the 
older  brothers.  Their  wives  had  put  them  into  the 
oven,  and  so  they  came  out  mere  lumps  of  dough. 
First  the  king  took  the  oldest  son's  loaf,  glanced 
at  it,  and  sent  it  to  the  kitchen ;  then  he  took  the 
second  son's  bread  and  sent  it  there  also.  When 
it  came  Prince  Ivan's  turn  he  presented  his  bread. 
His  father  took  it,  looked  at  it,  and  exclaimed : 

"  Here  is  bread  to  eat  on  Easter — not  half 
dough  like  that  of  my  other  daughters-in-law !  " 


THE   FROG-QUEEN  119 

Again  the  king  gave  this  order  to  his  three  sons  : 
"  Let  your  wives  make  me  a  shirt  in  one  night." 

Prince  Ivan  went  home  in  no  happy  frame  of 
mind;  his  proud  head  hung  down  below  his 
shoulders. 

uKwa  kwa!  Prince  Ivan,  why  are  you  so 
troubled  %  "  asked  his  Frog.  "  Can  you  have  heard 
some  sharp  disagreeable  word  from  your  father  1 " 

Prince  Ivan  replied :  "  How  can  I  help  being 
troubled  1  The  sovereign,  my  father,  has  ordered 
me  to  provide  him  a  new  shirt  in  a  single  night." 

"Do  not  be  distressed,  Prince  Ivan.  Do  not 
disturb  yourself  for  nothing :  Morning  is  cleverer 
than  Evening." 

She  got  the  prince  off  to  sleep,  and  then  she  laid 
aside  her  frogskin  and  once  more  became  the  Soul- 
maiden,  Vasilisa  the  All-wise,  and  so  beautiful  that 
neither  tongue  could  describe  nor  pen  depict  her 
beauty.  She  went  to  the  stairway  and  called  out 
in  a  loud  voice  : 

"  Maidies !  maidies  !  come  and  get  the  material 
and  embroider  a  shirt  such  as  my  own  father  used 
to  have  made  for  him !  " 

No  sooner  said  than  done.  In  the  morning  when 
Prince  Ivan  woke  up,  his  Frog  had  the  shirt  all 
ready,  and  such  a  wonderful  shirt  as  could  not  be 


120  THE   FROG-QUEEN 

imagined  or  conceived,  but  only  described  in  a  story. 
It  was  decorated  with  gold  and  silver  and  clever 
designs.  Prince  Ivan  took  the  shirt  and  carried  it 
to  his  father.  The  king  took  it  and  looked  at  it: 
"Well,  now,  this  is  a  shirt  to  wear  on  Easter 
Sunday!" 

The  second  brother  brought  his  shirt,  when  the 
king  said  :  "  I  'd  only  go  to  the  bath  in  that !"  But 
when  he  took  the  elder  brother's  shirt,  he  said: 
'  Take  it  to  the  kitchen !  " 

The  king's  sons  departed,  and  the  two  elder  ones 
said  to  each  other :  "  It  is  plain  we  mustn't  laugh 
at  Prince  Ivan's  wife ;  she  is  not  a  Frog,  but  some 
kind  of  a  witch." 

Again  the  king  gave  orders  that  all  his  three 
sons  should  appear  at  a  ball  with  their  wives. 
Prince  Ivan  went  home  to  his  palace  in  no  happy 
frame  of  mind ;  his  proud  head  hung  down  below 
his  shoulders. 

His  Frog  asked  him  :  "  Kwa!  kwa !  Prince  Ivan, 
why  so  troubled?  Did  you  hear  a  discourteous 
word  from  your  father  %  " 

Prince  Ivan  replied:  "How  can  I  help  being 
troubled'?  The  sovereign,  my  father,  has  com- 
manded that  I  come  with  you  to  a  ball  at  his 
palace.     How  can  I  show  you  to  people  %  " 


THE   FROG-QUEEN  121 

" Don't  be  distressed  prince!  GrO  alone  and 
mingle  with  the  guests,  and  I  will  tollow  after. 
When  you  hear  a  knocking  and  a  commotion,  say: 
1  That  is  my  Froggie  come  in  her  little  box.' " 

Well,  then,  the  elder  brothers  went  to  the  ball 
with  their  wives,  in  their  very  best  clothes  and  all 
their  ornaments,  and  they  stood  around  and  made 
sport  of  Prince  Ivan. 

"  How  is  it  with  you,  brother  1  Did  you  come 
without  your  wife*?  Or  did  you  bring  her  in  your 
handkerchief?  And  where  did  you  find  such  a 
beauty]  Say,  did  you  search  through  all  the 
bogs?" 

Suddenly  a  great  knocking  and  commotion  was 
heard  —  the  whole  palace  shook.  The  guests  were 
frightened  to  death;  they  jumped  from  their  places 
and  did  not  know  what  to  do.  But  Prince  Ivan 
said:  " Don't  be  afraid,  friends!  That  is  my 
Froggie  come  in  her  little  box." 

Up  to  the  king's  front  steps  came  flying  a  golden 
coach  drawn  by  six  horses,  and  out  of  it  stepped 
Vasilisa  the  All-wise  —  so  beautiful  that  she  could 
not  be  imagined  or  conceived,  nor  even  described 
in  a  story.  She  took  Prince  Ivan  by  the  hand  and 
led  him  behind  the  oaken  tables,  behind  the  checked 
linen  tablecloths. 


122  THE   FROG-QUEEN 

The  guests  began  to  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry 
Vasilisa  the  All- Wise  drank  from  a  glass  and  poured 
the  dregs  up  her  left  sleeve.  She  ate  some  swan 
flesh  and  thrust  some  of  the  bones  up  her  right 
sleeve.  The  wives  of  the  two  elder  princes  mar- 
velled at  her  cleverness,  and  lo !  they  had  to  do 
the  same  thing ! 

Afterwards  when  Vasilisa  the  All- Wise  went  out 
to  dance  with  Prince  Ivan  she  shook  her  left  sleeve 
—  a  lake  was  formed ;  she  shook  her  right  sleeve, 
and  over  the  water  flew  white  swans.  The  king 
and  the  guests  were  mightily  astonished. 

Now  the  two  elder  daughters-in-law  started  to 
dance.  They  shook  their  left  sleeves  —  all  they 
succeeded  in  doing  was  to  spatter  the  other  guests ; 
they  shook  their  right  sleeves  —  a  bone  flew  out  and 
hit  the  king  directly  in  the  eye.  The  king  was 
angry  and  sent  them  home  in  disgrace. 

Meantime  Prince  Ivan  seized  his  opportunity, 
ran  home,  found  the  frogskin,  and  burnt  it  up  in  a 
great  fire.  When  Vasilisa  the  All- Wise  came  and 
discovered  that  her  frogskin  was  gone,  she  grew 
sad  and  said  to  the  prince : 

"  Oh,  Prince  Ivan,  what  have  you  done  f  If 
you  had  only  waited  a  little  I  should  have  been 
yours  forever.    But  now  good-bye !    You  will  find 


THE   FROG-QUEEN  123 

me  beyond  the  thrice-nine  lands,  in  the  thirtieth 
kingdom,  at  the  ends  of  the  earth,  with  Koshchei 
the  Deathless." 

So  saying,  she  turned  into  a  white  swan  and  flew 
out  of  the  window. 

Prince  Ivan  wept  bitterly,  but  you  see  there  was 
no  help  for  it.  For  a  whole  year  Prince  Ivan 
longed  for  his  wife.  The  next  year  he  made  up 
his  mind,  asked  his  father's  permission  and  his 
mother's  blessing,  said  his  prayers  to  God,  bowing 
to  all  four  sides,  and  started  forth  whither  eyes  look. 

He  travelled  far  and  near,  he  wandered  up  and 
down.  At  last  he  chanced  to  fall  in  with  a  little 
old  man  who  accosted  him  : 

"  Your  health,  my  dear  lad !  and  what  are  you 
seeking  for,  and  whither  are  you  going  1 " 

The  prince  told  him  about  his  misfortune. 

"  Eh !  Prince  Ivan,  why  did  you  burn  up  the 
frogskin  ?  You  did  n't  have  to  put  it  on,  and  you 
didn't  have  to  take  it  off.  Vasilisa  the  All- Wise 
was  born  cleverer  and  keener  witted  than  her 
father.  That  was  why  he  was  angry  with  her  and 
commanded  her  to  be  a  frog  for  three  years.  Here 
is  a  little  ball  for  you ;  wherever  it  rolls,  follow  it 
boldly." 

Prince  Ivan  thanked  the  old  man  and  started 


124  THE   FROG-QUEEN 

after  the  little  ball.  He  went  along  an  open  field 
and  met  with  a  bear. 

"  Hold  on ! "  said  he.     "  I  will  kill  the  beast." 

But  the  Bear  said  to  him :  "  Do  not  kill  me, 
Prince  Ivan;  I  may  be  useful  to  you  some  time." 

So  he  went  farther,  and  lo  !  a  wild  drake  flew  up. 
The  prince  aimed  his  arrow  at  him  and  was  going 
to  shoot  the  bird,  when  suddenly  he  said  in  a  human 
voice : 

"  Do  not  kill  me,  Prince  Ivan !  Even  I  may  be 
of  use  to  you." 

He  heeded  his  request  and  went  on  his  way.  A 
squint-eyed  hare  ran  out.  The  prince  was  again 
about  to  shoot  his  bow  at  him,  but  the  Hare  said  in 
a  human  voice : 

"  Do  not  kill  me,  Prince  Ivan.  Even  I  may  be 
useful  to  you." 

Prince  Ivan  heeded  his  request  and  went  on  his 
way,  till  at  last  he  came  to  the  blue  sea,  and  there 
he  saw  a  sturgeon  gasping  on  the  beach. 

"  Ah !  Prince  Ivan,"  besought  the  Sturgeon, 
"  have  pity  on  me  and  put  me  back  into  the  sea." 

He  threw  her  into  the  sea  and  then  proceeded 
along  the  shore.  As  he  went  and  went,  the  little 
ball  rolled  up  to  a  small  hut  which  stood  on  a  hen's 
legs  and  turned  round  and  round. 


THE   FROG-QUEEN  125 

Prince  Ivan  said  :  •'  Little  hut!  little  hut!  stand 
as  you  used  to  —  with  your  face  to  me  and  your 
back  to  the  sea." 

The  little  hut  turned  round  with  its  back  to  the 
sea  and  faced  him.  Prince  Ivan  went  in  and  saw 
on  the  stove,  on  the  thrice-ninth  brick,  the  Baba 
Yaga  lying  with  her  nose  through  the  ceiling  and 
grinding  her  teeth. 

"Hello,  you,  young  man!  why  have  you  come 
to  me  ?  "  demanded  the  Baba  Yaga  of  Prince  Ivan. 

"  Oh  you  old  hag!  "  he  replied  boldly,  "  you  had 
better  first  give  me  something  to  eat  and  drink, 
and  a  good  warm  bath,  before  you  ask  questions 
of  this  young  man !  " 

The  Baba  Yaga  gave  him  food  and  drink  and  a 
warm  bath,  and  then  the  prince  told  her  that  he  was 
going  in  search  of  his  wife  Vasilisa  the  All- Wise. 

"  Oh,  I  know ! "  exclaimed  the  Baba  Yaga 
"  She  is  now  with  Koshchei  the  Deathless.  It  is 
hard  to  reach  her ;  it  is  not  easy  to  overcome  the 
immortal  one :  his  death  is  on  the  end  of  a  needle; 
the  needle  is  in  an  egg ;  the  egg  is  in  a  duck ;  the 
duck  is  in  a  hare;  the, hare  is  in  a  box;  the  box 
stands  on  a  tall  oak ;  and  the  tree  is  guarded  by 
Koshchei  like  the  apple  of  his  eye." 

The  Baba  Yaga  showed  him  in  what  place  that  oak 


126  THE   FROG-QUEEN 

was  growing.  Prince  Ivan  went  there  and  did  not 
know  what  he  should  do  or  how  to  reach  the  box. 
Suddenly,  coming  from  somewhere,  appeared  a 
bear  and  he  uprooted  the  tree.  The  box  fell  out 
and  broke  to  pieces ;  the  hare  ran  out  of  the  box 
and  scampered  away  with  all  its  might  and  main. 
But  behold !  a  second  hare  darted  after  it,  overtook 
it,  and  tore  it  into  bits.  Out  of  the  hare  flew  a  duck 
and  went  high,  high  into  the  air.  She  flew  away, 
but  behind  her  in  full  pursuit  darted  a  drake,  and 
as  soon  as  he  overtook  her  the  duck  dropped  an  egg, 
and  the  egg  fell  into  the  sea. 

Prince  Ivan,  seeing  misfortune,  wept  bitter  tears  ; 
but  suddenly  a  sturgeon  swam  up  to  the  shore 
holding  the  egg  in  her  teeth.  Prince  Ivan  took  it, 
broke  it,  took  out  the  needle,  and  broke  off  the 
point.  How  Koshchei  struggled,  and  how  he 
struck  out  in  all  directions  —  but  he  had  to  die ! 

Prince  Ivan  went  to  Koshchei's  house,  took 
Vasilisa  the  All- Wise,  and  went  home.  After  this 
they  lived  together  and  were  happy  ever  after. 

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